5,500 police personnel have been deployed to Akwatia, Eastern Region, for the upcoming by-election slated for Tuesday, September 2.

Briefing the media on the Police’s preparation ahead of the by-election on Friday, August 30, the Director-General of Operations, COP Dr. Vance Baba Gariba, noted that to ensure effective coverage, the constituency has been grouped into nine security zones.

He disclosed that 600 officers have been fully armed to swiftly respond to any disturbances that may occur during the exercise.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Operations has assured that the military will only assist should matters get beyond control.

“The military will be only on standby. As and when we need them, then we will deploy them, but if we don’t need the military, then we will not request for the deployment of the military. They are only going to be on standby,” COP Gariba stated.

The election has become a necessity following the tragic passing of the Member of Parliament for the area, Ernest Yaw Kumi, who had only served for six months.

In a series of security operations in Akwatia, the Eastern South Regional Police Command has announced the arrest of ten persons and the confiscation of nine firearms ahead of the upcoming by-election.

The firearms include eight pump-action shotguns and one locally manufactured single-barreled gun. This was announced in a statement shared on their official Facebook page earlier today.

They revealed that "These seizures form part of intensified efforts to prevent the unlawful possession and use of weapons during the electoral process".

The first suspects were intercepted in a vehicle being driven by one Bernard Kumi Ofosu near the St. Dominic Hospital in Akwatia.

Following a search of the vehicle, they found a Tulpar double-barrel pump-action gun, four AAA live cartridges, and two FTB blanks.Ofosu admitted ownership and presented a valid license.

He is currently assisting with investigations while the exhibits undergo verification. Also, the statement continued that another operation led to the discovery of 15 live cartridges from another suspect, Joshua Amenuku. A later search at his residence led to the discovery of a gun and more live cartridges.

"In a separate operation at the Akwatia Y-Junction snap check, the Police arrested suspect Joshua Amenuku after retrieving 15 live BB cartridges from him. A subsequent search at his residence uncovered one ADLER TULPA pump-action gun and five additional live BB cartridges" the police added.

They also revealed that "later that evening, Police intercepted a Toyota Hilux pick-up at the Boadua Livingstone snap check point and arrested suspects Enoch Asiedu, and Lu Youyan, a Chinese national, after four live BB cartridges were retrieved from the vehicle.

"Preliminary interrogation revealed that the ammunition allegedly belonged to their employer, one Mohammed, identified as the owner of the vehicle. Efforts are underway to trace and arrest suspect Mohammed for interrogation, while the two suspects remain in custody assisting investigations," the statement said.

The police continued that "Four live BB cartridges were retrieved from the vehicle. Preliminary checks linked the ammunition to their employer, identified as Mohammed, owner of the vehicle. Police are pursuing him for questioning while the two suspects remain in custody.

In another operation on Friday, August 23, "Police officers on duty at the Boadua Livingstone Junction snap check point again arrested suspect Pieterson Joseph, after retrieving one (1) ADLER TULPAR pump-action gun and 46 AAA and BB cartridges from his vehicle. The suspect admitted ownership of the firearm".

On the same day, the police "officers on snap-check duty at Staff Village Boadua, intercepted a Toyota Tundra pick-up with registration no WR 5535-13 from the Asamankese direction towards Boadua. A

search conducted in the Tundra pick up revealed the three pump-action guns, including (1) Pardus pump-action gun, one (1) Hulglu Atroe pump-action and one (1) other pump-action gun. Suspect Stephen Nkansah claimed ownership of two of the pump-action guns and stated that the third pump-action gun belongs to his chief.

Meanwhile, suspect Stephen Nkansah has been arrested and detained for investigation.

Following such successful operations, the Police assured the public and all other stakeholders that they would intensify operations to ensure the integrity of the elections, as well as maintain peace and security in the region ahead of the elections.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has noted that his outfit will stay alert and avert any form of misconduct and electoral violence during the Akwatia by-election.

Engaging the media, the IGP noted that his officers are up to the task.

“We want to assure Ghanaians that the police is ready to handle any type of thing that may come in Akwatia. We are ready with the men. We have the men who can handle this situation and then our eyes are red for Akwatia and nobody, nobody should think of coming to cause trouble,” he said.

IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno cautioned the political parties participating in the by-election against marching men to the polling stations to distrupt the electoral process.

“No political party should mobilise men to come and foment trouble, and nobody should have in mind the intention of snatching a ballot box. We have prepared our men adequately to handle this situation, and that, I informed the political parties as I met them yesterday [Tuesday],” he explained.

He noted that individuals who attempt to cause any form of violence during the Akwatia by-election will be quickly whisked away by police personnel to face the full rigors of the law.

According to the police, a mobile prison will be set up to detain suspects. The IGP made this information known to the media during the final day of a five-day intensive training at the High Risk Operations Training Centre (HROT-C) at Akyeremanteng in the Eastern Region.

“There is no fear for Akwatia, this will be one of the best and peaceful elections because we are fully prepared. If you come quietly to vote, we will receive you quietly, if you have any intention of causing trouble, we will not allow you to go free, we will change your location. We will house you in different forms, before your trouble goes far.”

“Under no circumstances will someone come to the polling station to create a problem, and we will allow the person to go free,” the IGP said.The training included tactical drills such as rappelling, precision shooting, handcuffing, vehicle stop and search, crowd control, and human rights considerations. Over 5,000 police personnel are expected to be deployed to Akwatia for the by-election.