All bodyguards of members of Parliament (MPs) and other state officials who will be in Assin North in the Central Region for Tuesday’s by-elections have been ordered to turn in their guns, according to Inspector General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
Less than 24 hours before the election, on Monday, June 26, the IGP issued an order prohibiting them from carrying such rifles.
The order was issued following a crucial meeting on Monday between the leadership of the Ghana Police Service and representatives of the political parties and the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC).
Following the meeting, the IGP, who was in charge of the police force, gave the bodyguards instructions to hand up their guns to the nearest police station in the Assin North Constituency.
As an alternative, they are required to deliver the guns to the Police Election Command Center in Assin Breku.
The IGP said in a letter to the bodyguards that “Such weapons can only be collected after the election and upon specific directives to do so.”
He further instructed, “Bodyguards are not to carry their side arms (pistol) to polling places and collation centers.”
“Anyone who disregards this instruction or fails to follow this directive issued by the Inspector General of Police shall face punitive action.”
