A security analyst, Dr. Adam Bonaa has called on the Ghana Police Service to arrest and prosecute those responsible for setting tyres ablaze at the premises of the Greater Accra Regional Collation Centre.
This incident comes amid mounting pressure from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Electoral Commission (EC) to declare the party’s parliamentary candidate for Weija-Gbawe, Felix Odartey Lamptey as the winner of the 2024 elections.
Speaking on Starr Today on the back of this, Dr. Bonaa stressed the need for swift action to prevent individuals from taking the law into their own hands.
“I am still amazed by the way the Police have handled this year’s election, especially under such strong provocation. No one has been killed or brutalized by the Police. You, the media, know that in the past, media personnel and citizens would have been beaten by officers who felt you weren’t favoring their candidate or party. They would assault you to prevent you from reporting the truth. However, I am told that the IGP has issued clear instructions: they have been told not to use pepper spray. Instead, they are to manage situations calmly, and later, those who break the law will be arrested and prosecuted. This is best practice internationally.”
Dr. Bonaa also explained why the military should not be involved in the current situation.
“This is why we have called for the military to stay out of this process. People throwing stones do not warrant such extreme measures. We should not escalate the situation, as we have seen in incidents like Ejura and Techiman, where people were killed unnecessarily.”
He continued, “The Police must remain fair, arresting those they can and prosecuting them in the full glare of the cameras, ensuring transparency. This way, those who might be tempted to take the law into their own hands will know that we are working within the rule of law.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Rashid Tanko, Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress, has called on the party’s supporters across the country to exercise restraint following the incident.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5fm/ Benjamin Sackey
