Presidential candidates of political parties vying for the 2008 elections are asking for detailed security from the state. The move, they argued, would ensure that their lives are safeguarded during the campaign period as election tension mounts across the country. The Convention People’s Party’s flag-bearer, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, who initiated the idea, used the recent incident of deadly clashes in the Northern Region to buttress his point. “You know what happened in Tamale, I am just hoping that we would not wait for some madman, madwoman, somebody to do something to somebody in high position and for all of us to start running around and say, oh, why didn’t we do this, why didn’t we do that.” Dr. Nduom’s move has the backing of other high political officials, including the presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention. Dr. Edward Mahama said: “I feel that if the security to the individual was at the level that I required, and this was an added thing for me personally, fine...the security leaves much to be desired.” He hinted that leadership of political parties have been in discussion with the police, and noted that he would be “satisfied with a minimal level of security”. Dr. Kobina Arthur Kennedy, Head of Communications of the Akufo-Addo campaign team said: “I support security for the aspirant…I think that it is a good idea to offer that to all serious candidates, so that both the candidate and the people who come to the event be assured of security.” Mahama Ayariga, a member of the campaign team of the National Democratic Congress, said even though its flag-bearer, Prof. Atta Mills, enjoys some level of security protection by virtue of being a former vice president, he said that is not enough. A security analyst, Dr. Kwesi Annin noted that an international convention even suggests that persons who are politically exposed should be given security protection. However, he said: “When those politically exposed persons by their behaviour and utterances contribute to generating general insecurity among the populace as a means of getting access to political power, then that is problematic for them to seek protection.” Story by Isaac Essel