Security consultant Richard Kumadoe has stressed that the success of the upcoming Akwatia by-election depends not only on the police but also on the Electoral Commission (EC) and political actors fulfilling their responsibilities.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, August 29, 2025, Mr Kumadoe said while the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has assured the deployment of 5,000 personnel to secure the constituency, policing alone cannot guarantee a peaceful poll.
“The police, just like the military, have gone to do what we call reccy, and I believe they have gone to do security mapping. It is also the reason why the IGP met with the political parties to address their concerns. He mentioned that he is going into Akwatia with 5,000 men. Even if every polling station has 30 personnel, he will still have some men at his disposal,” he explained.
However, he warned that logistical lapses by the EC could trigger tensions.
“For the election to be successful, there are three people who must act correctly. The Electoral Commission must discharge its statutory duty. If we get to Akwatia and the machines don’t come or they come and are not working, that is not the job of the police. If there is voter displacement or discrepancies during collation, it is not the fault of the police,” he stressed.
Mr Kumadoe added that political actors also bear a major responsibility in ensuring a credible process. “It has always been the case that the politician, who is the third person in the bracket, will not do their work, bastardise the whole process, create all manner of problems, and then blame everybody,” he observed.
He praised the police leadership for demonstrating preparedness and urged politicians to avoid conduct that could undermine the credibility of the exercise.
“The police and the IGP have shown readiness to deal with anybody who wants to flout our laws. It is a shared responsibility,” he emphasised.
The Akwatia by-election is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
