Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana (Care Ghana) has expressed concerns over significant lapses in election security management, despite the country’s notable progress.
During a press conference, Care Ghana highlighted serious issues with the Ghana Police Service’s performance under the leadership of Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
David Kumi-Addo, the Executive Director of Care Ghana, emphasized that the 2024 general elections are an opportunity for Ghana to showcase its democratic maturity.
He noted, however, that the organization’s findings point to critical shortcomings, particularly in election security, raising serious concerns about the role of the Ghana Police Service under Dr. Dampare’s leadership.
“The decision by Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, IGP, to supervise the unlawful act of re-collation is troubling.
“This action directly contradicts the IGP’s duty to uphold the legal framework governing elections and raises serious questions about his commitment to the rule of law”.
David Kumi-Addo
Kumi-Addo also praised the head of the Election Security Task Force, IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, for his earlier public statement on the role of the military in the 2024 elections.
He pointed out that the IGP had made it clear that military intervention and deployment would only occur at the request of the Ghana Police Service.
The report shared by Care Ghana also outlined several critical concerns, including election-related crimes, illegal military arrests and intimidation, and the failure to address vote-buying and selling.
Accordingly, Kumi-Addo pointed out that the Election Security Task Force’s inability to effectively combat criminal activities contributed to several violent incidents during the elections.
Noteworthy incidents included the shootings in Awutu Senya East, Nyankpala, and Tolon constituencies, which resulted in the loss of lives and property, injuries, and heightened tensions, demonstrating a failure in securing the election process.
He also raised concerns about the recurring instances of military overreach in electoral affairs. “Such actions not only threaten Ghana’s democracy but also erode the public’s trust in state institutions tasked with maintaining law and order”.
Care Ghana further emphasized that the ongoing issue of vote-buying and selling, especially in the Ayawaso Special Voting and Effiduase/Asokore constituencies, underscores the Ghana Police Service’s failure to tackle this electoral malpractice.
Care Ghana Calls for Strengthened Election Security, Independent Oversight
Furthermore, in response to these findings, Care Ghana put forward several recommendations to tackle the challenges and enhance future electoral processes.
David Kumi-Addo urged the strengthening of the Election Security Task Force by adopting a proactive approach to crime prevention during elections.
According to him, adequate training and resources should be provided to ensure that officers are equipped to manage electoral violence effectively and impartially.
“Independent Oversight of Security Operations: The police front should be restructured to allow for dynamic, patriotic, and non-partisan leadership for effective security operations. This will ensure accountability and prevent undue interference from political actors.
“Combating Vote-Buying and Electoral Malpractices: The Ghana Police Service must develop and enforce stringent measures to detect and penalize vote-buying and selling. Public awareness campaigns should also be intensified to discourage these practices”.
David Kumi-Addo
Care Ghana also recommended enhanced collaboration between security agencies, stressing the need for the Ghana Police Service and the military to establish clear and comprehensive guidelines for their cooperation during elections.
According to Care Ghana, this would ensure that their roles are well-defined and prevent any unauthorized military involvement in civilian electoral matters, which should be strictly prohibited.
Additionally, the organization highlighted the importance of respecting judicial processes.
It urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Election Security Task Force to ensure strict adherence to court orders and judicial processes.
Care Ghana emphasized that this would help maintain public trust in the rule of law and reinforce the integrity of the electoral system.
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