The Ghana Police Service has called on the two major political parties in the country, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to concentrate on their political activities while allowing the police to focus on its policing work.
The call came after a meeting between the Police and the leadership of the NPP and NDC to address political disagreements. The Inspector General of Police called for the meeting following press statements issued by the parties and subsequent petitions to the Police Service, with each party calling for the arrest of individuals from the other side for alleged offenses.
The Police Service’s statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, urged the parties to be decent in their operations and to support the Police by constructively criticizing them to perform their constitutional mandate professionally. The concerns raised at the meeting centered on offensive comments made by some political figures on both sides of the political divide.
As Ghana prepares for the 2024 general elections, it is crucial for political parties to conduct their activities without undermining public peace and security. The Police Service has a constitutional responsibility to ensure the safety and security of citizens and maintain law and order during elections.
Therefore, it is essential for political parties to refrain from making inflammatory statements and take measures to prevent violence and political intimidation. It is also important for the Police Service to maintain impartiality and professionalism in carrying out its duties to prevent bias towards any political party or individual.
Below is the full press statement
