Political parties have called for broader consultations from the police to ensure a violence-free election in December. The call comes in the wake of a crucial meeting held last week by Police Commanders and the Interior Minister Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor to chart a new course for a peaceful election. The police have come under heavy criticism following clashes between supporters of New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress in Gushiegu in the Northern Region which claimed at least three lives. But to avert a resurgence of violence in Tamale and other volatile areas in the country, the parties say they have a role to play and the police must take cognisance of that. Speaking to Joy News, the National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Samuel Ofosu Ampofo said the party is privy to attempts by some disgruntled people to derail the efforts of the police and to cause chaos ahead of the elections. “We have credible information of deliberate attempts by some people to cause confusion in NDC strongholds to prompt a state of emergency which will inure to the benefit of the NPP,” he said. He also noted the NDC does not approve of armed security personnel at polling centres, saying that will intimidate potential voters from exercising their franchise. On his part the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Ohene Ntow called on the police to provide security for all Ghanaians. He said the only way to repose public confidence in the Police Service is for personnel to deal with complaints of the public expeditiously. “If they don’t that is when people take the law into their own hands and engage in reprisal attacks,” he added. Author: Nathan Gadugah