The Institute of Security Safety and Policy Research has said in order to create a congenial atmosphere during the upcoming December polls, the Ghana Armed Forces must not be used to police the elections.

The institute made this known at a dialogue held among security experts and civil society organisations considered to be critical stakeholders in the upcoming polls, on Monday, 23 November 2020, in Accra.

Outlining a number of security measures to be rolled out immediately before the 7 December polls, the Executive Director of the Institute, Mr Adam Bonaa noted: “To create a congenial atmosphere on the 7th of December, the military should not be seen anywhere close to any collation centres before, during and after the elections unless otherwise required by the President through an Executive Instrument.”

He further noted: “The police and the Election Security Task Force should have adequate tools for policing the upcoming elections.” 

Mr Bonaa also cautioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mr James Oppong-Boanuh against the deployment of masked police officers and national security operatives during the election.

“The Ghana Police Service should deploy the body cameras, which were recently procured, in order to collect footage of wrongdoing of election malpractices and to effectively monitor and communicate with the other allied security agencies.

“We’re earnestly requesting the IGP to fulfil his promise with proper identification for accountability to this end, we’re in strong terms warning against masquerade police and deployment of so-called national security personnel for this exercise,” the security analyst stated. 

The Institute called on officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) to “be abreast with the security guidelines and arrangements agreed by the EC and the election security task force.”

It also called on the general public to use “their smartphones to film all security-related matters before, during and after the election for evidential purposes.”