Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Asong Ayrakwa, Nima Police Commander, has assured residents of adequate security measures to ensure peaceful electioneering.
ASP Ayrakwa made this known during a stakeholder engagement organised by the Ayawaso East Municipal Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) with the aim of identifying and addressing threats that could impede Ghana’s upcoming general election.
He said some security issues that had been identified so far in the communities as the country geared up for the upcoming elections were the violence associated with their medium of campaigning, particularly the posting of posters in the communities.
He mentioned that the posting of campaign posters had resulted in misunderstandings between some youth in the community, especially among those affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and called on all leaders and stakeholders in Zongo communities across Ghana to help protect lives and property in their vicinity.
He said the pasting of posters was part of political campaigns, especially in a democratic era, emphasising the need for them to leave spaces for other parties to also post theirs.
ASP Ayrakwa said some youth had already formed gangs, getting ready to engage in violence, stressing the need to educate the Zongo communities on the impact of violence, especially during the election as such.
He said an association had been formed targeting the youth to preach peace and unity with the aim of preventing politicians from using them for violence.
“We’re all in Ayawaso East Constituency; after this election, we’re going to meet and pray together as one people; we’re going to eat, play football, and other games as the same people,” he stated.
ASP Ayrakwa warned against abusive language during campaigns, encouraging community members to engage in constructive dialogue, respect each other’s opinions, and focus on issues that would promote the development of Zongo communities.
He mentioned that Nima was the head of all zongos in the country, and failure to maintain peace there would have a rippling effect on all zongo communities, hence the need for all individuals in the area to promote peace and unity, to set an example for the rest, and to ensure a successful and democratic election.
The participants stated that there had not been any record of political violence in Nima since 1992, noting however that some politicians were using the youth either from the area or other places to engage in unacceptable activities, adding that the youth in Nima know themselves and would not hurt themselves.
