The Ghana Police Service has dismissed suggestions that tensions are rising owing to increased political activity in the country.
“There is no…heightened tension in Ghana. Anytime there is an election, there is what I call ‘political fever’, so this political fever is not uncommon,” Public Affairs Director of the Ghana Police Service DSP Cephas Arthur told Naa Dedei Tettey on Class FM on Friday August 12.
Earlier, an international delegation made up of representatives of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) had released a report indicating that there was heightened tension ahead of the general elections in December.
According to the delegation, after meeting with the Electoral Commission (EC), presidential candidates, political party representatives, and election security officials, it observed that the perceived high stakes of the election by some party activists had contributed to the increasingly polarised political environment and heightened tensions.
U.S Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and NDI Board Member, Barrister Mike Avwenayeri Igini, indicated: “Parties on both sides of the divide (NDC and NPP) consistently asserted that the credibility of the elections hinged on the impartial conduct of the polls.”
He explained that the confidence exhibited by the parties “was shaken by the protracted litigation over the outcome of the 2012 elections”.
According to him, the issues regarding the credibility of the voters’ register and the electioneering process came under intense scrutiny, which raised tensions.
He noted that “some party leaders continue to question the adequacy” and the preparedness of the EC.
However, Supt Arthur disagreed with the findings and explained that what is being experienced is normal political temperature in every election year.
He, however, assured that the police would not relent in their efforts to ensure peace and would analyse every piece of information that comes to their attention.
“Any piece of information is of intelligence value to the police. We shall look at it. We shall not write it off, but we in Ghana know how we normally experience this in an election year,” he further explained.
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