Police warn media to stay away from their operations
From Isaac Akwetey-Okunor, Koforidua
Paul Tawiah Quaye, IGP
The Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Abass Abaa, has appealed to the media to stay away from police operations as the country prepares to go to the polls in December 7.
According to the police boss, in as much as the police appreciate the immense contributions of the media towards crime combat and maintaining peace in the country, it would be in the best interest of media practitioners not to meddle in police operations.
Addressing the media on the activities of the Eastern Regional Election Taskforce at his office in Koforidua on Wednesday, ACP Abass expressed grave concern over how some media practitioners interfere with the operations of the police.
The former commander in charge of the national police training school in Accra affirmed his office’s readiness to work in harmony with the media, ahead of the upcoming election, in order to ensure free, fair and transparent election, but was quick to advise them not to disturb the police.
He charged the media to take into consideration the consequences of putting unsubstantiated pieces of information into the public domain, adding that as stakeholders towards a successful election, it would be wise for practitioners to check and cross their facts before publication.
He also assured the general public of the police commitment to ensure free, fair and transparent election via the demonstration of high etiquette, professionalism without fear and favor.
“A criminal is a criminal no matter the background or political party of the criminal. The situation whereby after committing an offence such a criminal or group runs to claim allegiance to a political party must not be tolerated as it leads to escalation of crime or reprisals from other political party supporters”, he noted.
He took opportunity of the briefing to advise the general public to be law abiding and advised parents and relatives to encourage their wards to desist from lawlessness. According to him, the security Services would enforce their constitutional mandate without allowing an element of compromise.
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