The Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service has denied knowledge of the police SWAT vehicle and the masked men who occupied them on the day of the Ayawaso by-election.
DCOP George Alex Mensah stated this when he gave his testimony at the Emile Short Commission Friday.
“I did not know who the masked men were. I will be surprised if they were members of the SWAT team. That vehicle is not part of those under my command and the police have never used that vehicle before” he added.
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According to the Director of Operation for the Police Service, anytime the police require the services of other agencies such as the military for the electoral purpose, the police must make the request.
“The police will have the responsibility for the action and inaction of the military if they are called in. In the case of the Ayawaso by-elections, I got to know of the masked men from media reports and heard on air they are from the National Security” he stated.
DCOP George Alex Mensah insists that as far as the police administration is concerned, “No other unit took part in the policing of the elections.”
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However, the National Security chiefs who appeared before the same Commission on Thursday claimed the said vehicle belongs to the Police SWAT team and the men occupying them were members of the National Security.
The Emile Short-led Commission is investigating the circumstances which led to the violent clashes at La Bawaleshie in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in the early hours of January 31, 2019.
Armed men stormed the residence of the NDC candidate, Delali Brempong with the Minister of State in charge of National Security saying the men were deployed on intelligence that arms were being stockpiled in the house.
He, however, admitted before the Commission of Inquiry on Thursday that the operatives did not succeed in retrieving any arms.