The Koforidua -Effiduase District Police Commander DSP Samuel Young Acolatse is demanding the closure of all drinking spots near polling stations on December 7, 2020, during voting.
According to the Police Commander, checks in New Juaben North Constituency of the Eastern Region show that many polling stations in the constituency are surrounded by drinking spots.
This he says is in contravention to the electoral laws of the country which prohibits the sale of liquor less than 500 meters away from polling stations on Election Day between 7:00am to 5:00pm.
“According to the law you should not sell alcoholic drinks which are within 500 meters from the polling station but if you look at it, all the polling stations most of them have drinking spots near them so the best thing is to close down all drinking spots. Because you cannot open the drinking spots and say you will only sell soft drinks you will be tempted to sell alcoholic drinks to your customer. So we are appealing to them to close all drinking spots which are located within the 500 meters to the polling centers “.He said.
He said any drinking spot operator who fails to comply will be arrested and prosecuted.
“When we see you selling alcoholic drinks to any person it goes contrary to the law so we will arrest you and prosecute you”
The Police Commander said this Sunday at a peace campaign forum organized by Voice of Zongo Communities (VZC), an NGO to trumpet the message of Peace to the Zongo youth of Koforidua Zongo.
DSP Samuel Young stated that security services will discharge its duties professionally with the ultimate aim of protecting voters and maintaining law and order.
Chairman of Voice of Zongo Communities (VZC) Mannan Jawal Waru called on muslin youth to desist from acts of violence.
He said the NGO will enroll many unemployed Zongo youth in vocational skills training to ensure that they get income to fend for themselves and their families.
The program was attended by the Council of Muslim chiefs, Regional Chief Imam -Alhaji Yusif Amudani, representatives of the National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE, the Peace Council, and political parties.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
