Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, has criticized an order by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) requiring all police bodyguards of MPs to surrender their weapons to the nearest police station in Assin North prior to the by-election.
On Monday, June 26, 2023, the IGP ordered that they are not to tote such rifles.
Following a crucial meeting between the leadership of the Ghana Police Service, political parties, and the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC), the directive has been issued.
The IGP, who led the police at the meeting, issued the order to the bodyguards immediately afterward, requesting that they turn over the firearms to the armourer of the nearest police station within the Assin North Constituency.
In response to the IGP's directive, Dafeamekpor stated that the IGP had no authority to issue such a directive because it was unconstitutional.
He told the press in Assin North, "MPs are required to have bodyguards as a condition of their employment. In this republic, the IGP has no authority to alter the conditions of service of a sitting member of parliament, just as he has no authority to alter the conditions of service of a superior court justice.
Therefore, it is unlawful and unconstitutional for him to issue a statement requiring police bodyguards of members of congress to relinquish their weapons to the nearest police station.
He stated that the directive was an attempt to intimidate and harass lawmakers, and he demanded that the IGP promptly withdraw it.
Today, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, candidates from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) are competing for the Assin North parliamentary seat.