The National Election Security Task Force (NESTF) has cautioned political parties against the use of well-built or ‘machomen’ to intimidate voters on election day.
During an engagement with political parties on December 3, Chairman of NESTF, Dr George Akuffo Dampare took strong exception to political parties clothing party foot soldiers with state security uniforms on election day with the view of causing mayhem at Polling Stations.
The engagement with the political parties was a follow up to a previous one held a fortnight ago to address their preparedness for a transparent and violent free poll on Saturday December 7.
Three concerns bordering on election security were tabled for discussion with the political party representatives following an intelligence picked by police in some constituencies.
The de-escalation strategy by NESTF
Dr George Akuffo Dampare cautioned that the task force will not hesitate to deal with individuals that maybe found foul of the law.
He further indicated that ” this culture of machoism which makes people think that biceps are ways to determine the strength of a person will not be tolerated.”
“If any of such people is found closer to polling station, a community, an environment or a collation center trying to intimidate the people, we will find a place for that person to sleep,” he added.
The IGP continued that, “we have brought you here to inform you of our plans so that when we begin to act you (political parties) won’t say that we have taken sides.”
He further warned against the clothing of party foot soldiers with state security uniforms to create the impression that they are security officials to cause mayhem at polling centers.
The political party representatives present expressed satisfaction with the mechanisms instituted by the election security task force to protect the peace of the elections.
General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey who spoke on behalf of his party said members appointed by the party to work on the election day will be urged to abide by the directions offered by the task force.
Director of Elections of the New Patriotic Party, Evans Nimako said the NPP is poised at all times to stick to the rules of the game.
He however expressed concern about the growing misinformation and disinformation about the electoral process which he said must be checked.
Other political parties’ representatives including the Convention People’s Party and the All Peoples Congress urged cooperation with the security personnel detailed for duty at the polling centers.
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