AS the political campaigns for this year's general election heat up, the police commands in the three northern regions have urged the various political parties to always endeavour to notify the police before holding rallies or meetings to avoid any possible clash or disturbances in the area.
The three regions are considered as flash points in view of the pockets of conflict there and the police have entreated the parties to be careful in their utterances and actions in order not to inflame the passions of the electorate in their bid to woo supporters.
The police reminded the parties of the Public Order Act 491 of 1994 that enjoins organisers of special events to notify the police within five days in writing before the events.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Special Duties in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, Mr Ephraim Okoe Brakatu, who made the call, was briefing the media on the security situation in the north in Tamale on Monday. In attendance were senior police officers from the three regions.
He gave the assurance that his outfit would continue to display a high sense of professionalism in maintaining peace and security in the country.
The Upper East Regional Police Commander, Mr Ofosu Mensah-Gyeabour, acknowledged that the death toll in the Bawku conflict could be higher than the official figure of 45 deaths since the resurgence of the ethnic disturbances between the Kusasis and Mamprusis in December last year.
He explained that the combatants had now resorted to psychological warfare whereby they declined to give the actual number of deaths suffered by either side to the security in order not to let their opponents feel victorious and thereby dampen the spirit of their members.
At a press briefing on the security situation in the area in Tamale on Monday, the commander disclosed that so far 143 suspects had been rounded up by the security agencies, with 26 of them sent to Accra for security reasons.
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