The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Yohuno Tetteh, has warned candidates contesting the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer elections not to interfere with police operations during the polls.

He said he would not tolerate any acts of violence or lawlessness on election day and cautioned candidates against calling him to secure the release of supporters who may be arrested for breaching the law.

According to the IGP, intelligence reports indicate that some candidates have engaged “macho men” to oversee activities at polling centres, a move he described as unacceptable.

He stressed that anyone found disrupting the process would be arrested without exception.

"...some group of individuals are planning to deploy 'macho men'. Please, we are cautioning that the police are more macho than the macho men you will deploy," he stated.

"When it comes to the stage that these 'macho men' will not take the advice from the caution that is given to them, and they come to the polling stations, and we arrest them, I am pleading, no one should call me," he said during a ceremony held on Thursday, January 22, for the candidates to sign a peace pact ahead of the polls.

“I want to assure you that we have done a lot of training and preparation and that my regional commanders have called me and said that they are even ready for the election today,” Mr Yohuno added.

The IGP’s remarks come amid heightened security preparations ahead of the NPP’s flagbearer elections scheduled for 31 January.