Political Parties Asked To Sdhere To Public Order Acts

Mr Benard Dery, Volta Regional Police Commander, has advised political parties to heed to venues and dates of their rallies to ensure peace during campaigning towards the December general elections. He said police recommendations for such variations were normally based on cogent reasons, including clash of proposed dates with similar events by opposing parties or important national exercises. Mr Dery said this during a meeting with executive members of the political parties in the region on Wednesday April 2 in Ho. A statement issued by the Police Regional Directorate signed by Mr Dery said the Deputy Regional Police Commander, Regional Directors of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) Prisons, CEPS, Divisional, District and Unit Police Commanders, attended the meeting. Mr Dery rehashed the relevant Public Order laws with the Political Party representatives, and gave them a copy each of the laws and urged them to strictly adhere to the provisions. He asked the parties to avoid confrontational attitudes, and endeavour to resolve conflicts among them amicably. Mr Dery said there was no need for parties to hire "macho men" to terrorize opponents, warning that the security agencies were ready to handle them. He suggested that the first Wednesday in every month should be set aside for interactions between the security and party officials on "matters of concern” affecting to both sides. The Regional Police Commander urged the parties to base their press and other statements on facts and verifiable figures and not on hearsays and also separate politics from religious and chieftaincy issues. Mr Dery suggested that by August 31, this year committees with representation of security agencies and all political parties be formed to map out strategies acceptable to all stakeholders on steps and roles the sides would play to ensure fluid elections processes. He hinted that the security would establish operational systems that would ensure free information flow during the period. Representatives of the NPP, NDC, CPP and DFP attended the meeting.