The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has reiterated calls for police personnel across the country to exhibit professionalism during, before and after the December 7 polls.

John Kudalor says the last people to foment trouble in the lead-up to the general election will be police personnel, hence the call for them to be impartial in their treatment of Ghanaians in the run-up to the elections.

“One thing is very clear that it [election] is going to be keenly contested by all the various political parties and we are fully aware that the overall success of the election is large part contingent on peace and security which falls on the police,” he said.

The IGP disclosed this when he addressed personnel of the Volta Regional Police Command as part of his tour of the region to assess the readiness of the police ahead of the December polls.

With barely five months to the general election, political activities have picked up with both the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) campaigning fiercely.

President John Mahama who is the Presidential Candidate of the NDC just rounded up his “Accounting to the people” tour of the ten regions of Ghana.

Flagbearer of NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is also embarking on what he has termed “Arise for change” tour in which he promises to build one factory in every district of the country.

With the political atmosphere charged, many people have doubted the preparedness of the police to ensure peace at the polls.

But the IGP says with the preparation of the regional commands, he is convinced the police are ready and poised to ensure this year’s election is peaceful.

He said he is “bemused, enthused and flabbergasted by the passion and dedication” shown by the police in the Volta Region, adding, they need to do more to protect the peace of the country.

He challenged the police to engage the media in its activities so that only the right information is passed on to Ghanaians.

“We all know that the media is not just there as an ordinary corporate body as it used to be,” he said, adding, “It is very important how to collaborate with the media to ensure a violence-free election.”