The National Elections Security Taskforce, chaired by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), George Akuffo Dampare, has issued a strong caution to private security operatives, urging them not to interfere with the work of state security forces before, during, or after Saturday’s elections.
Ghana’s recent elections have been plagued by incidents of violence, often linked to vigilante groups, some of which function as private security for political figures.
Addressing the Association of Private Security Organizations, IGP Dampare assured the public that state security agencies would have full oversight of election security, reiterating their commitment to ensuring peaceful and transparent polls.
“The only entity responsible for providing security is the state security and nobody [else]. We don’t want a situation where the ordinary Ghanaian voter is confused and probably intimidated by any citing of or any form of uniform that makes them very apprehensive in showing up and casting their votes,” he said.
“To Ghanaians, we want to assure you that we have your back, and we will do anything that it takes for you not to be confused. Especially the voters so that you can walk into the polling stations to cast your vote peacefully with a lot of confidence, knowing that nobody can intimidate you. We are with you and with all the political parties and their candidates and assure them that the measures we are putting in place are for the benefit of all, to ensure that they also have confidence in the system and do not even make any attempt on their own to try to provide security for themselves, for we are fully and totally in charge,” he added.
In a separate engagement, the elections’ security task force met with the Commonwealth Observer Mission, led by former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, providing assurances of their preparedness to manage the polls effectively.
