Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has charged the leadership of the Ghana Police Service to correct what he described as “weaknesses” exposed during the recent Ablekuma North election rerun, as the country prepares for the upcoming by-election in Akwatia.
Addressing the Regional Commanders Conference in Accra, the Minister said Ghana’s democratic achievements since 1992 must be protected through professional and neutral policing during electoral processes.
“The peaceful conduct of elections remains a cornerstone of our democracy,” he said. “Since 1992, Ghana has earned global acclaim for its relatively peaceful democratic transitions. However, we must admit that the recent rerun of elections in the Ablekuma North Constituency exposed certain weaknesses that must be swiftly addressed.”
He urged the police to increase deployment levels, ensure officers are adequately briefed, and provide them with the needed logistics to respond to any threats of electoral violence.
“We must ensure that our personnel are not only deployed in sufficient numbers but are adequately briefed and equipped with the needed resources to prevent and contain election-related violence,” the Minister stressed.
Mohammed-Mubarak emphasized the need for professionalism and neutrality, reminding officers that public trust in the police depends heavily on their conduct during elections. He further called for improved coordination and rapid response systems in line with international best practices.
In a key directive, the Minister tasked the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to immediately establish an Electoral Security Monitoring Task Force solely focused on the Akwatia by-election.
He concluded by encouraging police commanders to take the Akwatia poll as an opportunity to reinforce the Service’s reputation and deliver a violence-free and credible electoral process.
By Bawa Musah
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