The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has ordered the interdiction of three police personnel for failing to perform their duties professionally during the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
This is contained in a statement issued on Sunday (12 May).
The affected officers, namely Inspector Michael Addo, G/Constable Eric Boakye, and G/Constable Michael Gyan, were found to have not carried out their responsibilities properly while in charge of security at the Electoral Commission Office at Adugyama in the Ashanti region Saturday (11 May).
They failed to maintain order when certain individuals attempted to disrupt the registration process.
As part of the interdiction, these officers will undergo the due disciplinary process of the Police Service to address their conduct and ensure accountability.
What happened?
At least three people were reported injured following violent clashes between rival factions at the voter registration centre.
The clashes erupted when some students, reportedly brought to the centre for registration by an agent of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), were contested by other political party agents and residents who claimed they were not eligible residents of the area.
After an initial protest was calmed, a group of armed individuals later stormed the registration centre, wielding clubs, machetes, and other weapons to enforce the students’ registration.
This escalated into a scuffle with opposing political party agents and residents, resulting in injuries to at least two individuals who are now receiving treatment at the hospital.
Allegations
NPP parliamentary candidate for Ahafo Ano South East, Frederick Acheampong denies sponsoring the attack.
“I vehemently reject such claims,”Achee as he is affectionately called told a local radio station. “I was with Dr Nsiah Asare who was on a routine visit to the registration centre when my attention was drawn to the incident. My research officer was injured in an earlier attack”.
“The tension escalated when some students who were brought from Kumasi to register were prevented from taking part in the process. Even I instructed my agents to take them back to where they came from. The NDC agents and their assigns attempted to attack them when indeed the electoral laws prescribes a challenge form. This is wrong”, he said.
The NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Ahafo Ano South East Constituency, Yakubu Mohammad also denied involvement in the violence and warned his party will not be intimidated.
He also called on the police to beef up security in the area.
