TASK FORCE TO ESTABLISH OPERATION CENTRES ON POLLING DAY — ANKO-BIL (PAGE 17)

THE Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP George Anko-Bil, has said the Regional Elections Task Force will establish operational centres throughout the region to expeditiously deal with any problem that will mar the smooth conduct of the general election, especially on election day, December 7.
The task force, he said, would collaborate with the Ghana Navy in its activities during the elections on islands on the Afram, Volta and Obosum rivers, all in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains) which can only be reached by canoe or boat.
This, he said, would ensure a smooth and peaceful election and also make it possible for those on the islands and other outlandish places to exercise their franchise.
ACP Anko-Bil, who is also the Chairman of the task force, gave these hints when he briefed members of the Task Force which is represented by the security organisations and the political parties contesting in the elections in Koforidua at the weekend.
Although all the political parties had representation on the task force, only those representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the People’s National Convention were present. Also, present were representatives of the print media in the region.
He said it had been the desire of the task force to ensure a violence-free election in the region and that all efforts were being made to that effect.
“We have now identified 240 flashpoints in the region which are likely to generate problems, so security personnel from the rapid deployment force stationed in such operational centres would be hurriedly sent to such flashpoint in case of any eventuality to deal with the problem,” he stated.
According to ACP Anko-Bil, the task force would also be having regular meetings with all stakeholders of the election, especially parliamentary candidates and others such as the media to educate them on how best to go by their activities during the election in such a way as to make the event peaceful.
He said the task force had instituted such measures because the election had become crucial, especially for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), both of which had won twice and were therefore hoping to win for the third time.
ACP Anko-Bil therefore appealed to the leaders of all the contesting political parties to properly educate their supporters not to do anything that would bring confusion and chaos.
Mr Alecs Agobo, the NPP representative, gave the assurance that the party was committed to peaceful elections in the region.
He also said a visit organised by the Electoral Commission (EC) for representatives of political parties to its operational headquarters to acquaint themselves with the election processes, where they were conducted round by the Chairman of the commission, Dr Afari Djan, had made them to understand that the EC could not in any way alter the voters’ register or manipulate the results of the elections.
The PNC representative, Mr Godwin Tay, called on those who would mount political platforms to desist from casting insinuations against opponents since such practices generated tension and chaos.
In his contribution, Mr James Taibu, who represented the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) ,advised the media to be circumspect in their reportage.