Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has assured the public that no military personnel will be deployed in the Ablekuma North Constituency during today’s parliamentary election rerun.
In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Dr. Boamah emphasized that the Ghana Police Service will have sole responsibility for election security, underscoring the government’s commitment to maintaining a peaceful and democratic environment at the polls.
“To ensure a peaceful and democratic process, the Ghana Police Service will be fully in charge of security for today’s elections in Ablekuma North Constituency. There will be no military deployment,” the statement read.
The Minister cited previous incidents of election-related violence, including the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election and the tragic deaths of eight civilians during the 2020 general elections, as key reasons for keeping the military out of civil electoral duties.
“We must learn from these experiences and prioritize citizen safety and security,” Dr. Boamah noted, adding that the Ghana Police Service is well-equipped and capable of managing electoral security professionally.
He also called on voters to remain calm and law-abiding, encouraging them to exercise their democratic rights peacefully. Additionally, Dr. Boamah voiced support for increased transparency measures, such as the use of body cameras by security personnel, to promote accountability and public trust.
Today’s rerun in 19 polling stations comes in the wake of disputes surrounding the December 7, 2024 parliamentary election, which resulted in the constituency being left without representation in Ghana’s 9th Parliament.
The Defence Minister’s statement seeks to reassure the electorate and bolster confidence in the electoral process as the constituency heads to the polls once again.
