The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has given strong assurances that the Ghana Police Service is fully prepared to deliver a safe, peaceful, and orderly by-election in Akwatia, Eastern Region, scheduled for September 2, 2025.

The assurance came after the Police Management Board (POMAB) visited the High-Risk Operation Training Centre at Akyerematen on Wednesday, August 20, to evaluate the readiness of officers ahead of the polls. The IGP said the Service had deployed and trained personnel specifically to counter threats and prevent violence before, during, and after the election.

“We have brought men here, and they are trained on how to handle arms. As we are going to the election ground, we decided to come and sharpen our skills for the by-election. Today, they will move to Akwatia and assess all the threats just to let the country know that we are ready for the election. Nobody can come here to cause any trouble,” Yohuno said.

The Police Service emphasized that its duty extended to protecting all electoral stakeholders, including voters, electoral officials, political parties, and the media. The IGP added that intelligence and monitoring teams were already on the ground to detect and neutralize threats circulating on social media and other platforms.

On Tuesday, August 19, the Police held a joint meeting with political parties to review security preparations. While welcoming the police’s commitment, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) pressed for more decisive action on recent electoral violence.

NPP National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, called on the Police Service to restore public confidence by making visible arrests in connection with the clashes at Ablekuma North earlier this month.

“We said that thugs linked to the NDC, who caused mayhem, their images and videos are all over. As we speak, the Ghana Police Service has not effected any decisive arrest. The IGP said they are serious about it and that by the close of today, some arrests will be made. If they want us to rely on these assurances, then they must act,” Boakye stressed.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), on the other hand, urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to tighten accreditation procedures and bar unauthorized persons from accessing polling stations.

Rashid Tanko-Computer, Deputy Director of Elections and IT for the NDC, said the Ablekuma North incident should serve as a cautionary lesson.

“We are committed to peace, but we remain mindful of our opponents who may enter polling stations with dangerous weapons. Recall what happened in Ablekuma North. One of the leaders, Hawa Koomson, had pepper spray in her bag. The EC must ensure that even former MPs or Ministers without accreditation are kept outside the polling perimeter,” he said.

With less than two weeks to the polls, the Akwatia by-election has already heightened political tension, but the Police Service maintains it will deploy adequate manpower and resources to guarantee security and reassure voters of a safe exercise.