Police Threaten Court Action Against Political Parties

The Ashanti Regional Police have expressed disquiet over what they say is a lack of co-operation from political parties in efforts towards ensuring peaceful elections in the region. The police say their main concern is the parties� failure to inform them about their public activities, thereby limit the police�s ability to provide the necessary protection. Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Augustine Gyenning said this at the inauguration of an 18-member Ashanti Regional Elections Taskforce in Kumasi yesterday. According to him, efforts to get the parties to obey that regulation had been in vain. �We may be forced to start prosecuting them if they do not learn to play by the rules.� He said even those who invite the police to their gatherings have also adopted a strategy of informing them at the very last minute, a situation which he said makes it difficult for t hem to help. Meanwhile, he said it was common knowledge that at such political gatherings, tensions could be triggered, and without adequate police protection, lives may be lost and property destroyed. He said it was the concerns of every Ghanaian to have the country remain peaceful, and it was incumbent on the police to ensure such, adding that the police would not allow any individual or group to derail its efforts. Ashanti Regional director of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Samuel Tettey called on Ghanaians to contribute towards the peace that the nation needed. He said education and security were crucial for successful elections in December.