The Inspector General of Police George Akuffo Dampare needs to step up and take decisive action to tackle election-related crimes that are still under investigation. Richard Kumadoe, a Strategic Leadership ICON, Fraud Prevention Expert, and Security Consultant, emphasized this on the Adekyee Mu Nesm morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu.
Kumadoe criticized the Electoral Commission for its lack of defined protocols and procedures in the ongoing voter transfer exercise, which has resulted in clashes between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He highlighted Kasoa and certain parts of the Central Region as high-risk areas requiring proactive policing to prevent incidents like the unfortunate one at Ewututu Senya East.
Referring to incidents dating back to the 2020 elections, Kumadoe recounted the chaos in Kasoa, where gunshots disrupted voter registration. He cited a recent incident where Ato Koomson, son of incumbent MP Mavis Hawa Koomson, was stabbed during the voter transfer exercise, leading to violence at the Electoral Commission’s office in Kasoa involving members of the NDC and NPP.
Kumadoe stressed that there are around 200 high-risk areas, emphasizing the need for collaboration between the EC and security agencies to redefine their roles and protocols, drawing lessons from best practices in other countries to maintain law and order at all polling centers.
Meanwhile, the NDC has instructed its agents nationwide to defy the Electoral Commission’s memo denying party agents access to the ongoing vote transfer exercise. General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey condemned the directive, alleging it aimed to facilitate gerrymandering through illegal voter transfers and accused the EC of colluding with the NPP to undermine transparency.
In response to the EC’s memo citing violent clashes at some transfer centers, Kwetey called for the directive’s disregard, urging all NDC agents to monitor the exercise closely.
