As Ghana prepares for its general elections on December 7, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has reiterated its commitment to maintaining the nation’s stability and safeguarding its sovereignty. In a statement, GAF urged all citizens to responsibly exercise their civic duties, cooperate with security personnel, and refrain from any actions that could disrupt the peace during the electoral process. GAF emphasized its role in ensuring the integrity of the elections, stressing that the security of the polls would primarily be managed by the Ghana Police Service (GPS).
GAF clarified that no military personnel will be stationed at polling stations during the elections. Instead, the military will remain on standby, ready to assist only upon a formal request from the Ghana Police Service for additional security reinforcements. This collaborative approach between the military and police is designed to ensure that the elections proceed smoothly while maintaining law and order. GAF also urged the public to report any impersonators or individuals wearing military-patterned attire at polling stations, advising citizens to contact the nearest police station or call the GPS toll-free numbers for swift action.
In line with its commitment to transparency, GAF called on the public to assist in preserving the election process by reporting any suspicious activities involving military impersonators. This would allow appropriate action to be taken to protect both the security of the public and the integrity of the election. GAF emphasized that the success of the 2024 elections hinges on the cooperation of all Ghanaians, urging everyone to remain calm and law-abiding during the entire election period.
Meanwhile, Ghana is set to hold the Special Voting exercise on December 2, 2024, across 14 regions of the country, with 131,478 voters expected to participate. However, voters in the Eastern and Western regions will not take part on this date due to a defaced ballot paper leak. The Electoral Commission (EC) has rescheduled the special voting for these regions to December 5, 2024, after recalling and reprinting the ballots. The Special Voting exercise allows election-related personnel, such as security forces and journalists, to vote ahead of the main election day, ensuring they can fulfill their professional duties without conflicting with their right to vote. Results from the special voting will only be declared after the general elections.
