The Northern Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Ken Yeboah, has said a total of 3,137 security personnel will be needed to provide security in the December general election in the region this year.

He said due to the size of the region and the many flashpoints that had been identified, it had become necessary that there was adequate security to prevent any possible disturbances during the polls.

Mr Yeboah disclosed this at a workshop organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) in Tamale in the Northern Region.

The aim of the workshop was to educate the regional coordinators and working groups of an IDEG-CFI Election Situation Room (ESR) project on the management of peaceful elections for credible outcomes.

Systems

Mr Yeboah, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Regional Election Security Task Force (ESTF), said the task force had devised strategies to deal with any possible disturbances at the 81 identified flashpoints in the region.

According to him, two security officers would be stationed at each of the 81 flashpoints.

He, therefore, cautioned the youth in the region not to allow themselves to be used by any person or group to foment trouble.

Project

The Director of Operations of IDEG, Mr Kofi Awity, said the purpose of the workshop was to provide intensive training for the regional coordinators and working groups of the ESR project in the area.

He explained that the ESR was designed jointly by IDEG and the CFI to monitor the upcoming elections in order to ensure that it was not only free from violence but was also credible.

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