Security Analysts Dr. Adam Bonaa has commended the Ghana Police Service for their good conduct during and after the recent general elections amidst provocation by civilians.
About nine new suspects have been arrested in connection with electoral violence, bringing the total to 132. The police service is currently investigating incidents of violence and disturbances during and after elections.
According to police report, the number of suspects remanded into custody is 45, with 71 granted police inquiry bail.
The police have also provided an update on a shooting incident at the Nsawam Adoagyiri Constituency Collation Centre. The Greater Accra Region has been the epicentre of these incidents, with 16 cases recorded.
Speaking in an interview on Starr today, Adam Bonaa expressed his amazement at the way the police handled this year’s elections, especially under extreme provocation.
“I am still amazed with the way the police have handled this year’s elections. Especially under extreme provocation, nobody has died or been brutalized in the hands of the police,” he stated.
He also highlighted the significant improvement in police conduct compared to previous years, attributing it to instructions given by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), emphasizing on non-violence
“You, the media, know that in the past media men would have been beaten. Citizens would have been beaten by police officers who feel that you are not favouring their candidate or their party,” he noted.
Adding that, “they were told to ensure that they don’t shoot anybody, not even perpetrate them, but handle them and later, those who were have found to have offended the law, they arrest and prosecute them,” he explained.
Dr. Bonaa revealed that the police focus was on arresting and prosecuting offenders within the rule of law, rather than resorting to violence.
“The police would have to defend, arrest those who can be arrested, prosecute them in the full glare of the cameras, so that at the end of the day, those who want to probably take the laws into their own hands would know that no, we work within the rule of law,” he said.
