Conflict resolution expert, Emmanuel Bombande says he is worried about the lack of public confidence in the police, blaming the occurrence on the dwindling professionalism on the part of the police service.
Speaking with the media, Mr. Bombande said, the public fear the police may conduct its duties in favor of party divisions.
His comment comes on the back of the police identifying hotspots ahead of the December polls following clashes between NPP and NDC supporters in Odododiodio on Sunday, 25th October 2020.
“Their professionalism, the public will be weighing, whether or not there is confidence in the police based on their track record preceding moving into the last stretch. And there is no question about the fact that, the police have been found wanting and there have been incidences where the public has not been updated to know where the investigations have arrived and some of those issues and incidences. I am talking about the incident of two deaths during the voter registration exercise and the incident which saw four people arrested in the central region, but then, the Minister of State came forward to say she is responsible for the shooting and that’s the last time the public heard about what really happened.”
He further noted that, there must be some proofs indicative of what the police have been engaged in to mitigate such incidence, and to register public confidence in their professionalism.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Afia Tenge has intimated investigations are underway in pursuit of offenders in the Odododiodio clashes.
With this, the police has mounted a search for persons alleged to have initiated the disturbances in the Odododiodoo constituency which saw a clash between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during a peace walk.
“No arrests have been made yet, but the situation is calm and efforts are underway to get some persons whose names have been mentioned for allegedly initiating the fight to be arrested as the investigation continues. Meanwhile, the police have intensified its presence in the area to prevent any reprisal attacks.”
She also said that, the police will continue to admonish all supporters of all political parties especially the youth to desist from engaging in violent acts as the nation prepares for the 2020 general elections.
“No matter what happens, let’s choose peace over violence, for violence does not pay. We are all one people and as such, let us learn to settle our differences through peaceful means.”
According to the police, both parties have written their statements as to what happened on Sunday which led to the unpleasant turn out of events.
On Sunday 25th October, a peace walk by supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) turned into a violent clash in Jamestown in the Odododiodio constituency.
In a number of video clips widely shared on social media platforms, it showed supporters of the two main parties throwing bottles as well as hurling stones and insults at each other.
It is not clear what sparked the supporters of incumbent NDC MP, Nii Lante Vanderpuye and NPP’s Nii Lante Bannerman to start violent exchanges, as the police are still carrying out investigations.
