Former IGP calls for Ban on Motorbikes on Election Day

Story: Mary Mensah
A former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr P. K. Acheampong, has called for a total ban on the movement of all motorcycles on election day.
He said the display and behaviour of motorbike riders during political rallies were clear indications that they might misbehave or create problems during the elections.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra yesterday, the former IGP indicated that much as he appreciated the fact that motorbike riders had been advised not to go near any polling station on election day, a total ban of motorcycles on the day would ensure peaceful elections.
He said a number of motorbike riders did not also use helmets while they operated on the roads, disregarding road safety regulations.
Mr Acheampong expressed the view that with the level of preparedness of the security agencies to ensure peaceful elections, come Friday, December 7, there would surely be peace before, during and after the elections.
He advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used for any illegal activities that would later land them in trouble, as the long hands of the law would surely catch up with all wrongdoers.
The former IGP said people who perpetrated crimes in countries such as Germany, Argentina, Chile, Uganda, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, among others, were called upon, years after the acts, to answer for their actions, saying that should serve as a guide to people to strive for peace at all times.
He advised all young security personnel who disregarded authority while on the ground and decided to do their own thing to think again because their bosses, the heads of the various security agencies, had their reputation and integrity to protect and would deal drastically with them.
Mr Acheampong asserted that intelligence so far gathered indicated that some political parties had organised some boys in identifiable uniforms with the sole aim of creating havoc in the various strongholds of their opponents and advised that that should be avoided “to ensure that we live in peace at all times”.
He appealed to the National Security Co-ordinator to call those boys to order to ensure that they did not do anything that would mar the peace during the elections.
 He also appealed to all Ghanaians from all walks of life to act peacefully on election day and have it at the back of their minds that Ghana was a great nation which had come out of five elections.
“We will show the whole world in general and Africa in particular that we are mature in our democracy and are a beacon of hope for Africa,” Mr Acheampong added.