A political analyst at the University of Education, Winneba, Dr. Bernard Tutu-Boahene, has criticized the Ghana Police Service for its long-standing inability to prevent electoral violence, particularly during by-elections.
According to him, history has always shown that Ghana’s by-elections repeatedly come with violence.
His comments come in response to recent remarks by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tetteh Yohunu, who stated during a stakeholder meeting with political parties that the upcoming Akwatia by-election would be “one of the most successful” in Ghana’s electoral history.
In an interview, Dr. Tutu-Boahene challenged the IGP’s optimism, pointing to a troubling track record.
“The police have consistently shown weakness in tackling electoral violence during by-elections. Their presence alone hasn’t been enough to deter violence or hold perpetrators accountable,” he stated.
He stressed that political parties must also take responsibility for ensuring peaceful polls, saying: “Political parties have a critical role to play. They must commit to non-violence and discipline their supporters. Security alone won’t solve the problem.”
Dr. Tutu-Boahene urged the IGP to adopt more effective and proactive strategies in managing security during by-elections, including improved intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sadick Twum, a security analyst, welcomed the IGP’s engagement with political parties.
“It’s a step in the right direction. Dialogue is crucial, but the political parties must also be held responsible for the actions of their followers,” he noted.
The Akwatia by-election is expected to be fiercely contested, raising concerns among civil society groups and election observers about the potential for unrest.
As the nation heads to another critical vote, all eyes will be on the security forces and political leaders to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.
Source: Jagri Boaz Binyinjom
ALSO READ:
