By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Inspector-General of the Ghana Police Service, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, says his outfit will not make people of no class heroes overnight.
Dr. Dampare made this assertion when answering a question posed to him during an engagement with editors from various media houses on Wednesday, 20th November 2024, at the Police Headquarters as to why the police are not arresting people, especially political actors who make hate speeches on radio and television.
The IGP explained that sometimes people of no class, especially some political actors who are not known and have not achieved any meaningful accomplishment, intentionally make statements, and when the police invite them, in the next minutes, they become heroes. “We are not going to make heroes of nobody,” he reiterated.
Dr. Dampare continued by saying, “Have you seen party people amassed at police stations, regional and national headquarters in the past few years? The answer is no because we analyse the situation in most cases to see the velocity of the statement and most often find that such statements cannot stand the test of law. So that is why you might not have heard or seen much of invitations or arrests, but we have been monitoring and analysing everything both on air and off air.”
On the safety of journalists going into the election 2024, the IGP reassured the media of the service commitment to their safety before, during, and after the December polls.
IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, reiterated that the media is a key stakeholder in this year’s elections and, as such, requires the protection and support of the Police to effectively fulfill its responsibilities as the fourth estate.
He further highlighted Ghana’s reputation as a leader in democratic practices, attributing this success to effective collaboration between institutions like the Police and the media.
As part of the media security arrangements, the Police announced the introduction of liaison officers for all media houses nationwide to serve as direct links between the Police and the media establishments.
This arrangement is to address security concerns and enhance the safety of all journalists across the country in their coverage of the general elections.
Dr Dampare used the opportunity to call for collective efforts to make the upcoming elections a landmark in Ghana’s democratic history, one marked by peace, security, and order.
He further announced that a dedicated toll-free contact has been secured in collaboration with telecommunications companies, which will be made available to the public for sharing information with the Police as needed.
Acknowledging the media’s influential role in shaping public discourse, the IGP encouraged journalists to maintain the highest standards of accuracy in their election coverage while avoiding misinformation and disinformation that could undermine national stability.
Dr Dampare expressed confidence that the measures put in place will enable media personnel to carry out their duties without fear, regardless of their location, in covering this year’s election.
He encouraged all stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to showcasing Ghana as a model of democracy and stability during this year’s election.
