Security analyst Samuel Aryeetey has advised Defence Minister Dr Omane Boamah to deploy soldiers to support the police at 19 polling stations where the Electoral Commission is holding a parliamentary election rerun.
He opined that the police have lost their stamina and ability in maintaining law and order in the ongoing exercise.
The rerun in the 19 polling stations has been characterised by violent attacks perpetrated by thugs.
Some journalists were attacked in the line of their duty.
Politicians who are associated with the opposition New Patriotic Party, including the parliamentary candidate Madam Akua Afriyie, Madam Hawa Koomson, former Fisheries Minister, and other persons, were physically assaulted.
Commenting on these incidents, Mr Samuel Aryeetey posited that the police have lost morale, especially when one of their officers who slapped a journalist was interdicted.
He claimed that the issue has made the officers draw back and refuse to take action against those who are engaging in lawlessness.
He has therefore asked the defence minister to deploy soldiers to the polling stations to support the police.
The analyst warned the situation could escalate and worsen during the collation of the results.
Mr Samuel Aryeetey maintained that “we don’t back off police officers. What we need is the intervention by the military. In the face of what has transpired, we need the military now as backup. The police officers have become extra careful and refused to take action against what is happening, so the military must intervene,” he said on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM.
He was also concerned about the activities of thugs who have stormed the polling stations dressed in attires like rebels, disrupting the exercise.
He called on the interior minister to immediately disband all these lawless groups since their existence is a threat to our national security.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
