Roads leading to EC closed by task force * To ensure security

Page 19: Daily Graphic, January 2, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE National Elections Security Task Force has announced the closure of all roads leading to and out of the premises of the Electoral Commission (EC) from today, January 2, 2009 until further notice.
It said the roads would remain closed until the task force deemed it fit to re-open them for public use.
The Spokesperson of the task force, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, told the Daily Graphic that the decision to close the Castle Road from the African Liberation Circle through to the Cathedral Square, the road from the traffic light at the Alisa Hotel Junction at Ridge to the Ridge Roundabout, the road from the TUC, through the Labour College and the roads within the Ridge residential area was to create an enabling environment for officials of the EC, the Ridge Hospital, other business entities, as well as residents and patients in the area, to undertake their legitimate duties without fear.
He said only officials of the EC, stakeholders in the presidential election, emergency services, security personnel and patients would be allowed access to those routes.
He said any unlawful gathering by any group in the area would be met with legitimate force by security personnel.
DSP Ofori, who is also the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, appealed to the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and their followers not to “use the area as a playing field”.
He said anyone caught breaking the routes would be arrested and prosecuted.