The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has stated that he finds it odd that the Ghana Police Service (GPS) has dissociated itself from the remark of one of its senior staff, DCOP Gabriel Prince Waabu, that election security is solely the responsibility of the police service.
He indicated that the Ghana Police Service is primarily responsible for the taskforce that ensures a peaceful election. He stressed that the military is deployed to ensure security only in specific areas because the police are unable to handle such situations.
“So if somebody says the primary responsibility of election security is for the police; and as he said ‘elections are the baby of the Police Service’, I agree with him. He is right. It is the primary responsibility of the IGP and the Police Service to provide us with security and other security services complement their efforts”.
John Dramani Mahama
Accordingly, the NDC flagbearer indicated that for a peaceful election to be conducted, a neutral security service Like the Police Service must be engaged. He indicated that the use of a neutral force ensures calm and peace at the different polling centers during an election.
Moreover, the former President urged all faith-based organizations to balance their advocacy for peace with advocacy for justice emphasizing that lack of justice leads to an abrogation of peace.
Referencing the by-election incident of the Ayawasu West Wuogon constituency, the Former President disclosed that the victims of the violent act that took place were not compensated nor were the perpetrators punished as recommended by the enquiry commission that probed into the incident. “That’s why I say, in addition to peace we must also advocate for justice’’ he stated.
Furthermore, Mr. John Dramani Mahama detailed that eight citizens lost their lives in the 2020 General Elections and urged that Ghanaians make it their responsibility to advocate peace during the 2024 General Elections.
The Police Service and Election Security
A Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Gabriel Prince Waabu indicated that the Police Service may not involve the military in election security. He claimed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) made it known to the Ghana Armed Forces that the Police Service would exclude it from election security in the 2024 General Elections.
In his remark, the Officer of Police detailed that election security is the responsibility of the Police Service and other security forces like the Prisons and Fire Services will be invited if the need arises.
However, the Ghana Police Service described the comment of DCOP Waabu about the Police Service being a sole provider security during the election as unfortunate. The Police service also rendered an apology to the Ghana Armed Forces while it urged the public to dissociate the Police Service from the comment of DCOP Waabu.
“We want to state that under the National Election Security Taskforce Architecture, the Ghana Police Service works with all other security services including the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure peace security, law and order before, during and after elections… The conduct of the officer [DCOP Waabu] is being subjected to internal disciplinary processes of the Ghana Police Service”.
Ghana Police Service
The Police Service also assured the public of a peaceful and violence-free election in December while it appealed to the general public to collaborate with all security services that will be engaged during the election emphasizing the need for unity in upholding Ghana’s democracy.
Conclusively, the Ghana Police Service and other Security Services have been instrumental in ensuring peace and order during elections in the country. The Police Service however on some occasions encountered issues that they needed military backing to deal with. While the military may be an additional source of help to the police, it must be known that some citizens are uncomfortable with the military’s involvement in election security.
