Akwatia By-Election Security: Police Presence Not Enough

Elvis Darko, the managing editor for the Newscenta newspaper, recently discussed the Akwatia by-election. He cautioned that a heavy police presence in the area will not automatically guarantee peace. He believes true safety relies on the officers’ actions. The Akwatia by-election security measures, therefore, must be effective.

In fact, Darko appeared on Channel One TV. He spoke on the “Breakfast Daily” program. He warned that the sheer number of police officers deployed means little. Over 5,500 officers are on the ground. However, he says their presence is not a measure of effectiveness. He recalled past incidents. For instance, police officers did not act during the Ablekuma North by-election rerun. Despite being near violent scenes, they failed to intervene. He expressed concern that a similar situation could happen. The Akwatia by-election security response must be swift.

Additionally, Darko made another crucial point. He said officers must act decisively. They must prevent and stop clashes. If they run away, violence is certain. He said that a large number of officers is not enough. He pointed out the Ablekuma North incident as a clear example. The officers there ran away. Consequently, the Akwatia police must not repeat this failure.

Furthermore, he downplayed the political stakes. The by-election’s outcome will not change Parliament’s balance of power. The NDC already holds a numerical advantage over the NPP. Therefore, a victory for either side will not shift the numbers. This specific point of his analysis is quite important. He wants people to understand the election’s limited impact and does not want the lack of stakes to lead to complacency. Secondly, he wants all people involved in the election to remain vigilant. The by-election is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Source: Citinewsroom. Author: William Narh. Date: September 1, 2025.