“CARE GHANA charged Ghanaians not to forgive the Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service (IGP) Mr. James Opong Buanu for any violence in the upcoming general elections.
Following the violence in the just ended registration exercise by the Nana Akuffo-Addo led NPP leading to the death of person and other seriously injured, Ghanaians are entertaining fears that the 2020 general elections would be characterised with violence.
To this effect, Care Ghana was of the opinion that the IGP, Mr. Opong Buanu should also be blamed failing to prosecute perpetrators and collaborators of heinous crimes and violence in the just ended EC registration exercise and the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-elections which accounts for the fear of electoral violence in the December 7, 2020 elections.
This threat informs the increasing demand for fire-arms by ordinary Ghanaians for self protection going into the elections.
Full Statement By “CARE” GHANA
BLAME IGP FOR VIOLENCE IN UPCOMING ELECTIONS –
“CARE” GHANA
The Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service (IGP) Mr. James Opong Buanu should be held responsible for any violence that will occur in the 7th December, 2020
general elections.
Failure by the Ghana Police to prosecute perpetrators and collaborators of heinous crimes and violence in the just ended registration exercise and the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-elections accounts for the fear of electoral violence in the December 2020 elections.
This threat informs the increasing demand for fire-arms by ordinary Ghanaians for self protection going into the elections.
The inability of the police to find the killers of Silas a young graduate teacher who was stabbed to death in the just ended registration exercise and the refusal to bring to book persons such as Hon Mavis Hawa Koomson, an NPP Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East Constituency and a Minister for Special Development Initiatives who admitted shooting indiscriminately in crowd during the registration exercise is eroding the confidence and trust Ghanaians have in the Ghana police service and the IGP.
Owing to this, many Ghanaians have expressed uncertainty in their safety going into the December elections.
Our observations revealed that, many Ghanaians have lost confidence in the ability of our security services especially the Ghana police service to protect them in the coming elections. The concern raised by many Ghanaians is how to ensure a peaceful elections and aftermath.
This accounts for the increasing demand for firearms in an election year. According to the data presented by the police there are over 2.3 million revolvers and short guns in the hands of civilians.
More worrying is the believe by many that, the integration of vigilantes into our highly discipline and respected security services compromises the integrity our
security services especially the Ghana Police Service.
IN addition, the poor handling of the recent illegal importation of small arms and the attempt to cover the identity of the owners and importers creates the impression that some of our security
services are in consort with these criminals.
Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana “CARE” GHANA will like to remind the IGP Mr. James Opong Buanu that, the effect of his inactions is similar to the effect of the actions of criminal and armed robbery activities.
Many Ghanaians are beginning to get worried about the IGP’s failure to ensure the protection of lives, limbs and property. We urge the IGP to assume fully the responsibilities for which he is paid by the taxpayer.
“CARE” GHANA therefore calls the attention of the IGP on the need to restore citizens’ confidence in the Ghana Police Service to curb any reprisal attacks that may arise in an attempt for self preservation.
Signed
David Kumi Addo
