The direction that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, issued to the bodyguards of Members of Parliament (MPs) on carrying guns in Assin North is part of the Police's activities, according to Minister for the Interior Ambrose Dery.
He claimed that Ghana has a skilled police force under the
direction of a skilled IGP.
"I think our police department is run by a very
professional IGP who abides by the law. We don't meddle with these police
operations since they are entirely their own. Assin North's by-election is
being covered by TV3 reporters who are in the area today, Tuesday, June 27, and
he said, "We do know that the environment must be such that nobody feels
intimidated and those rules apply to all of us.
All MP and other state officials who will be in Assin North
in the Central Region for the by-elections on Tuesday were ordered by Dr.
George Akuffo Dampare to turn in their guns.
Less than 24 hours before the election, on Monday, June 26,
the IGP issued an order prohibiting them from carrying such rifles.
The order was issued following a crucial meeting on Monday
between the leadership of the Ghana Police Service and representatives of the
political parties and the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC).
Following the meeting, the IGP, who was in charge of the
police force, gave the bodyguards instructions to hand up their guns to the
nearest police station in the Assin North Constituency.
As an alternative, they are required to deliver the guns to
the Police Election Command Center in Assin Breku.
The IGP said in a letter to the bodyguards that "Such
weapons can only be collected after the election and upon specific directives
to do so."
He further instructed, "Bodyguards are not to carry
their side arms (pistol) to polling places and collation centers."
"Anyone who disregards this instruction or fails to
follow this directive issued by the Inspector General of Police shall face
punitive action."
However, Mr. Dafeamekpor informed the media that
"bodyguards linked to MPs are part of their service requirements. In this
republic, the IGP is not permitted to alter the terms of employment of a
serving MP any more than he is permitted to alter those of a sitting judge of
the superior court.
