Tag Archives: Security

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2024 election: Defy Akufo-Addo’s pressure, do what is right or prepare to face the consequences – Asiedu Nketia to security capos; urges religious, traditional leaders to speak out

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The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has issued a strong warning to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) to stand by the oath the swore and resist any undue pressure from President Akufo-Addo in the days ahead and during the December 7, 2024 elections.

Mr Asiedu Nketia, who was addressing the NDC national campaign launch at Tamale on Saturday stressed the significance of the security forces’ independence and neutrality, warning of dire consequences should there be any attempt to circumvent the will of the people.

The outspoken NDC Chairman whose christened his speech as a special letter the President and those in charge of the peace and security of this country was emphatic about the high level of disappointment, suspicion over attempts to manipulate the process at all cost and said those who allow themselves to be manipulated will suffer the consequences.

“If you fail, on the day of accountability, you will not have the president who is pressuring you now to come to your defence, you will be left on your own and your God.

“This is the time for positive defiance. You cannot be following wrong instructions under the excuse of order from above, no order from above. You swore an oath to protect this country – he added

Mr Asiedu Nketia continued – “My message to the IGP and the Chief of Defense Staff is simple, the day you were commissioned into leadership of our security services, you swore an oath to protect the interest of Ghanaians. You didn’t swear to protect the interest of any regime that is in power for the time being.”

He also advised members of the Council of State, traditional authorities, the Clergy and well-meaning Ghanaians not to sit on the fence but speak out on matters that threaten the security of the state.
Mr Asiedu Nketia’s caution comes in the wake of alleged secret recruitment of NPP foot soldiers into security agencies for deployment on December 7 to supress voters and appointments to the Electoral Commission to facilitate vote rigging.

News, Topstory

National Elections Security Taskforce ready – IGP

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Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare says the National Elections Security Task Force is firming up security arrangements for the upcoming District and National Elections.

The 2023 District Level Elections (DLE), barring any last-minute hitches, will be held on December 19, 2023, allowing eligible voters to elect Assembly Members to represent their respective electoral areas in the various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), as well as five Unit Committee Members for each electoral area.

The IGP said the upcoming district-level elections was crucial, such that there was the need to consult the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Prisons, Ghana Fire Service, and other relevant security agencies to ensure security at all levels.

Dr Dampare said this during a National Elections Security Task Force meeting held in Accra on Tuesday.

The meeting saw various security agencies represented, where they all expressed readiness for the DLE, which would also serve as a “dress rehearsal” for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

The IGP said the task force had become an integral part of the election processes and democratic practices.

He said the Police Service with all the relevant security agencies had decided not to take anything for granted, assuring Ghanaians of peaceful elections at both the District and National levels.
“We have only one Ghana, and we will sit collectively as professionals and as patriotic citizens to do whatever it takes to continue to let peace reign, and we will not compromise on this,” the IGP added.

In her address, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mrs Jean Mensah, noted with concern what she described as a predetermined agenda to foment trouble during the next general elections.
“The quest for power in current times had become fierce, adding that nobody or nothing would be spared in the quest to attain that power.” .. “Indeed, in a bid to capture power, our politicians and their supporters use all manner of methods to achieve their goals, in the wake of this, our security and safety are not spared, hence the need for security,” she stated.

She said one major challenge faced during elections was the abuse of social media to disseminate fake news around elections by “faceless individuals” for the sole purpose of causing disaffection for institutions such as the Commission in promoting unrest.

The Chairperson however reiterated the Commission’s confidence that the Cyber Security wing of the Police would be up to task and would deal with those situations timely.

Mrs Mensah said the Commission looked forward to working closely with the Task Force and key stakeholders to ensure that elections in Ghana, particularly the upcoming district assembly election and the national elections were credible, transparent, and peaceful.

Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, Chief of Defence Staff, said from all indications, next year’s national elections would be a crucial one, and that as custodians of national security, the Armed Forces was ready to ensure peaceful elections as always done.

Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, Chief of Defence Staff, said from all indications, next year’s national elections would be a crucial one, and that as custodians of national security, the Armed Forces was ready to ensure peaceful elections as always done.

The Chief of Defence Staff said the Armed Forces was committed to their Constitutional mandate and duty to protect the country and prevent any aggression both internally and externally.

“For the elections, we may not be in the upfront of the election duties, but we will be strongly in the background, ever ready and ever prepared to support the Police Service and other Security Services…,” he added.

 

 

Source: GNA

News, Politics

Security Analyst, Richard Kumadoe replies EC Boss on election violence

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We are witnessing predetermined well orchestrated strategies to create violence in elections – EC Chair

Me:
Election Security is key, and election management proceedings are also key to every successful electioneering processes.

1. Who are the saboteurs who are planning to create violence, at where and how?

2. Is the security agencies aware of this Intent, and are they in the position to thwart it before long?

3. What is/are the causes and the intended purposes of the people who are behind the intended election violence?

4. Non-punishable of election offences will rationalise bad behaviour, and further promote antisocial tendencies around the inner perimeters of an election area, please, beware.

It’s a national.call, and a duty we must all bear. Let’s stop the election violence.

*By Richard Kumadoe*
Founder, Independent Election Security and compliance watchers.