Colonel Gyadu Emmanuel, Director of Operations at the Army Headquarters, has assured Ghanaians that the military will play a supportive but limited role in the upcoming December 7 elections.
Addressing a joint security walk on Saturday in Koforidua to demonstrate the readiness of the security services for a peaceful election, Colonel Gyadu Emmanuel explained that the military will not be directly involved in election duties but will remain on standby to support civilian security agencies if needed.
Colonel Gyadu said the Police Service is the first line of response in maintaining election security.
He said the military will only be deployed if the situation gets out of the police’s hands, and even then, it will follow a strict protocol.
“For many Ghanaians, the question has been, are soldiers going to be there? On the 27th of this month, the Chief Staff Officer at the Army Headquarters made it clear that the military is not going to take part directly. We are going to be on standby. The security services under the Ministry of Interior are the people we are going to see close to the ballot box. Should there be any confusion, the first line of response is the Ghana Police Service, and we all attest to the fact that the police service is capable of dealing with any threat that we have envisaged. Now until around all this time, we will be in the barracks and FOBs.”
Colonel Gyadu outlined the procedures for military intervention, stating that no soldier can act outside the established protocols.
“When the situation gets out of the hands of the police, that is when they will call us through a well-established channel. So no soldier sitting anywhere can just take his weapon [thinking] there is confusion, I am going there. No! You have to be called through the appropriate channel, and it will be communicated to us. When we go to the scene, we will meet the police commander there, and then he briefs us. There is a paper that you will have to sign and tell us that truly the situation is out of their hand. He [Police Commander] will sign, then the Military Commander will sign and turn and tell his soldiers that gentlemen, restore law and order using minimum force.”
Eastern Regional Police Commander DCOP Twumasi-Ankrah, who is head of the Election Security Taskforce in the region, assured a well-coordinated security for a peaceful atmosphere during and after the elections.
He advised the security personnel to act professionally during and after the elections.
Eastern Regional Commanding Officer of Ghana Immigration Service, DCO1 Faisal Disu, admonished the security personnel to follow standard operating procedures for the election to swiftly call for reinforcement when the need arises.
Eastern Regional Minister Seth Acheampong urged political actors to desist from mischief during the election, citing recent misinformation about a broken seal on a bag containing electoral materials at the armoury of Eastern Regional Police Headquarters.
Source: starrfm.com.gh
