The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has faulted the Inspector General of Police, Dr Akuffo Dampare engagement with the two main political parties over the recent development on the political front.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, Mr Mustapha Gbande said “It is not the business of the police to set up a legal desk” over political comments.

“.. the first thing for the police to do was to invite suspects. If there is anything to do, they should speak to the people in their capacity as suspects.

"You haven’t invited the suspects, you are inviting a ceremony of political parties – you are massaging crime.

"Crime is not like a Father Christmas where political parties will come to you and tell you that they are going to commit a crime so IGP goes and set up a legal desk,” he added.

This follows the IGP engaging the two major political parties on two new security measures instituted to help maintain the peace as the country nears the 2024 general election.

A statement issued by the police on Monday, April 17 said the meeting was necessitated by press statements issued by the parties and subsequently followed by petitions to the Police Service with each party calling on the Police to arrest certain individuals of their opponents for some alleged offences.

However, Mr Gbande shares the view that instead of setting up a legal desk, the police is rather supposed to arrest, investigate and put people before the court.

Mr Gbande, therefore, noted that the IGP should not take over the work of the courts “to be setting up a legal desk investigating and examining political comments.”

According to him, regardless of who made the comments, if they have the potential to undermine peace and security while also violating people's rights, the police must act.

The police said they informed the political parties about the two strategic interventions introduced to handle elections and all politically related incidents.