Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, has criticised the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for ordering all police bodyguards of MPs to surrender their weapons to the nearest police station in Assin North ahead of the by-election.
The instruction, according to the IGP, is one guaranteed means of guaranteeing a calm election on Tuesday, June 27.
Dafeamekpor, addressing to media in Assin North, said the IGP had no power to issue such a decree since it was unlawful.
“Bodyguards attached to MPs are part of their conditions of service. The IGP has no power to vary the conditions of service of a sitting MP in the same way he has no power to vary the conditions of service of a superior court judge in this republic.”
“So for him to issue a statement and say that Police bodyguards of MPs should surrender their weapons to the nearest Police Station is unlawful and unconstitutional,” he stated.
The directive, according to Dafeamekpor, is an attempt to intimidate and harass MPs, and he has asked the IGP to remove it immediately.
The IGP’s instruction has elicited various reactions. Some think that it is an essential precaution to guarantee a calm election, while others claim that it is unlawful.