Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah has strongly defended the professionalism of the Ghana Police Service amid criticisms of inaction during chaotic scenes in the ongoing rerun of the Ablekuma North parliamentary election.
Speaking from the St. Peter’s Society Methodist polling station, where calm was recently restored after ensuing chaos, the minister dismissed calls for military intervention and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a purely civil security response.
“I don’t think you are being fair to the police when you say the police were helpless. The police are a very professional institution. When you don’t see them reacting with force, it doesn’t mean they are helpless”
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Defence Minister
Firmly pushing back against claims that police officers failed to act during violent disturbances at the polling station, Dr. Omane Boamah explained that deploying the military as a first response would be an error and a deviation from Ghana’s democratic principles, especially under President John Dramani Mahama.
“If it becomes abundantly clear that the military should restore order in any part of the country, the military will do it, but the military should not be the first port of call”
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Defence Minister
He recalled the controversial military incursion into Parliament under the previous administration and warned against such precedents. “Is that the democracy that we want?”
Dr. Omane Boamah insisted that the Ghana Police Service, working alongside the Immigration Service and the Prisons Service, all operating under the Ministry of Interior, have the capacity to manage electoral disturbances. “Trust that they will do it – they are capable”
Offering an overview of the voting process, which he described as “so far so good,” the Defence Minister stated that his joint presence at the polling station, with Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mubarak Muntaka Mohammed, was to observe things further, as they have been doing throughout the rerun.
No Military Intervention
Reiterating that the ongoing election exercise is not a military matter, Dr. Omane Boamah added, “It’s obvious the military is not involved, and that is how it should be. This is a civil exercise. We are not at war.”
He contrasted the current administration’s posture with past electoral violence and emphasized President Mahama’s peaceful approach.
“What we experienced in Ayawaso, West Wuogon, should not be repeated. What we experienced in the year 2020, where eight Ghanaians were killed just because of elections, should not be repeated. This is what President Mahama wants. It should be a peaceful exercise”
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Defence Minister
He also urged the public to remain informed about the scope of the rerun, noting that the entire constituency isn’t voting. “Because of the clustering system, you may have different polling stations voting at a particular location – it doesn’t mean yours is part of the 19,” he further clarified.
Dr. Omane Boamah’s assurances came after the violence that has so far marred the rerun. A close-up video in circulation captured the moment chaos erupted at the St. Peter’s Society Methodist polling station, where former Awutu Senya East MP Hawa Koomson was seen being assaulted.
The footage, widely circulated on social media, showed her using what appeared to be pepper spray against her attackers before being whisked away. The incident raised concerns about the safety of political actors in the exercise.
At the Odorkor Methodist Church polling station, the situation escalated when the New Patriotic Party’s Deputy Organizer, Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei Asamoah, was assaulted during the process. The altercation forced a temporary suspension of voting at that centre as security personnel restored calm.
The Ablekuma North rerun, which covers 19 polling stations, is being closely watched due to its potential to tilt the balance of power in Parliament. With the NDC just one seat short of a two-thirds majority, the outcome could significantly influence legislative control in the Mahama administration.
Dr. Omane Boamah’s comments come amidst growing public scrutiny of security arrangements and political tensions. However, the minister maintained that peace will prevail, as the police continue to operate within their mandate. “Let us give the police the maximum cooperation,” he concluded.
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