SECURITY TASK FORCE FOR NORTHERN REGION (PAGE 16)

A 10-member Northern Regional Electoral Security Task Force has been inaugurated in Tamale.
The task force, chaired by the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, is tasked with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the region as well as providing a conducive security environment to ensure smooth elections.
It is also expected to help identify all flash points in the region and to create a congenial atmosphere for smooth political campaigns in the area.
The Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, in his inaugural address stated that the task force was expected to be neutral, firm, fair and resolute in the performance of its duties.
They are also supposed to monitor pre- and post-election activities and help provide security to the Electoral Commission (EC) to distribute election materials and personnel to all polling stations.
“It is regrettable that current developments in the electoral process in some African countries for the past decade are not the best”, he stated.
Alhaji Idris therefore urged stakeholders to work closely to ensure that what had been achieved was further consolidated for incident-free and credible elections, acceptable not only to the political parties but also to the international community.
Mr Ofosu-Mensah, for his part, expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him, and gave the assurance that members of the task force would help maintain law and order.
“We would ensure proper investigations, objective policing, and provide security to the Electoral Commission to transport electoral materials”, he further assured.
According to the chairman of the task force they would put in place a rapid deployment force in all constituencies to ensure an incident-free election in the region.
“There will be maximum security at all polling stations and we will also ensure protection of vital installations in the region”, Mr Ofosu-Mensah stressed.
The Regional Director of the EC, Mr Sylvester Kanyi, announced that there would be an exhibition of the voters register from October 5-11 2008, adding that nomination forms for parliamentary aspirants had arrived in the region.
According to him, filing of nominations would take place on October 16 and 17, 2008.