Police in the Northern Region have increased their presence at major towns as a precautionary measure ahead of the Supreme Court ruling on the 2012 Presidential Election petition. Although the Supreme Court ruling is expected sometime in August, the police say beefing up personnel on the ground will forestall any possible violence after the ruling. Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ken Yeboah, told Joy News they have deployed personnel in the regional capital, Tamale, to make it easy for residents to contact them with information about conflict hotspots. The region is noted for recurrent ethnic conflicts which some experts say has political undertones. In May this year, one person was killed and five houses torched in Nankpanduri after ethnic clashes between a Konkombas and the Bimobas. In a related development, MPs say they are ready to educate their constituents to accept the verdict by the Supreme Court on the petition challenging John Mahama as president. According to the MPs, who went on recess on Friday July 19, they sense tension in the country as supporters of the Petitioners and Respondents wait for the final verdict by the Court. Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has even suggested a hold on government business in anticipation of the ruling. According to him, the various Parliamentary Committees members who are working should hold on until after August 15, which is a likely date for the Supreme Court ruling. But the Majority leader, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, disagreed with him. Dr Kunbuor said the Court decision will not have any effect on the Committees' work. The court has fixed July 31 for both Petitioners and Respondents to file their written addresses.