The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has assured Ghanaians of the Police Service’s readiness to ensure safety and order during the upcoming by-election in Akwatia, Eastern Region.
The assurance followed a visit by the Police Management Board (POMAB) to the High-Risk Operation Training Centre at Akyerematen on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. The visit was part of efforts to assess the preparedness of personnel and reinforce strategies to guarantee security before, during, and after the polls.
The IGP emphasized that the Service is committed to protecting all stakeholders in the electoral process, including voters, political parties, election officials, and the media. He also stressed that lawbreakers linked to previous election-related violence would not be spared.
“We have seen disturbing incidents such as those in Ablekuma North, where known thugs caused chaos. Their images and videos are everywhere, yet decisive arrests have not been made. We must build public confidence by taking firm action on these cases. I assure you that by the close of today, some arrests will be effected,” the IGP said.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to tighten security arrangements to avoid a repeat of past incidents. The party’s Deputy Director of Elections and IT, Rashid Tanko-Computer, urged the EC to ensure that only accredited persons are allowed within the polling stations.
“The NDC is committed to peace, but we remain cautious about the conduct of our opponents, who, in past elections, entered polling stations with weapons. In Ablekuma North, for instance, former Minister Hawa Koomson was found with pepper spray. We want to stress that former MPs or Ministers without accreditation have no business at the polling station,” Tanko-Computer stated.
The Akwatia by-election is expected to be highly competitive, and both the Police Service and the EC are under pressure to guarantee a peaceful process.
