Police meet NDC, NPP

The police top brass, led by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, yesterday met with the leadership of the two main political parties to discuss how to maintain law and order in the aftermath of the 2012 presidential election petition before the Supreme Court.

While the police hierarchy had full deliberations with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the way forward, discussions with the New Patriotic Party (NPP)  were rescheduled for a later date.

A statement signed by the Director of Police Public Affairs, Mr Cephas Arthur, said the meeting formed part of the “advocacy drive for peace and the maintenance of law and order”.

Addressing the NDC delegation, led by Mr Kofi Attor, Mr Alhassan assured the parties of the readiness and commitment of the police to maintain law and order in the country at all times, including the period after the determination of the 2012 presidential election petition in court.

The statement said the IGP reiterated the fact that the police placed more premium on advocacy, hence the decision to engage stakeholders on the issue of peace and to discuss the way forward, adding, “Policing has to do with the participation of all stakeholders and the successes chalked up by the service can be put down to the collaboration with these stakeholders.”

It said the  IGP called on the leadership of the political parties and other identifiable groupings in the country to preach peace to their followers.

It said he underscored the preparedness of the Police Administration to maintain law and order, adding that that would be through the training of personnel all over the country, the assembling of equipment and logistics and a comprehensive assessment of the whole situation.

On behalf of the NDC, Mr Attor expressed the party’s appreciation for the efforts of the police and assured them of the co-operation of the NDC and its followers.

He lauded the advocacy drive of the police and called for the involvement of those at the grass roots where the people could also benefit from the discussions.

The National Organiser of the NDC, Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan, for his part, said the party was committed to peace and that there was no way it would do anything to disturb the peace the country was enjoying.

Other members of the NDC team were a Deputy General Secretary, Mr George Lawson; the Deputy National Youth Organiser, Mr K. Kponu; the National Women’s Organiser, Madam Anita Desooso, and the National Treasurer, Mr Kamel Norshi.

The NPP was represented by its National Chairman, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, as well as Mr Bryan Acheampong and Mr Charles Taylor, both leading members of the party.

It would be recalled that the Police Administration started its sensitisation drive last week when it called on the Graphic Communications Group Limited, the New Times Corporation, the National Chief Imam and the Islamic community and the Christian Council of Ghana.

It has plans to visit other stakeholders.