Dr. George Akuffo Dampare with CSOs representatives
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have praised the National Election Security Taskforce (NESTF) for its strategic plans to prevent violence during elections.
Addressing journalists in a press conference, Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of The Ark Foundation, Ghana, commended the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, who leads the taskforce for his security plans which has been implemented to reduce any form of disturbance in the country.
She said following the engagement with the security taskforce, they have appreciated the laid down measures implemented to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
“The IGP informed us about the measures being taken to engage those involved in acts of violence, with the goal of preventing loss of life and minimising unrest throughout the country,” Madam Dwamena-Aboagye stated.
She emphasised that the IGP assured CSOs that the police are actively managing the situation.
“As representatives of Civil Society, we will continue to serve as watchdogs, monitoring police actions and assessing the state of peace and security in our communities. We remain committed to evaluating the level of stability or disruption occurring across the nation,” she added.
Security Measures
Director of Communications at the Ghana Police Service, ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, shared insights into the security strategies implemented during the recent elections, emphasising proactive measures taken by NESTF.
ACP Ansah-Akrofi noted that ahead of the elections, NESTF made its election security strategy public, detailing plans for pre-election, Election Day, and post-election phases.
“During the pre-election phase, we actively engaged with various stakeholders and deployed intelligence operations across the country. We also provided support for the Electoral Commission in all its activities leading up to the elections,” she explained.
“On Election Day, security personnel were deployed to polling stations and collation centres nationwide. We conducted swift arrests in response to incidents that occurred during the election period,” ACP Ansah-Akrofi added.
Currently in the post-election phase, she reported that all security strategies have been fully activated. “We have been updating you regularly as incidents occur,” she said. “Notably, acts of lawlessness were reported in the Bono, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions.”
However, ACP Ansah-Akrofi assured that police and military forces responded swiftly to restore order. As of now, 107 suspects have been arrested for their involvement in various acts of lawlessness; one has been granted bail while 106 others are currently undergoing legal processing.
To further enhance security across the nation, ACP Ansah-Akrofi outlined additional measures, including intensified joint patrols with other security agencies and deploying intelligence officers to monitor communities for potential perpetrators. “We will arrest everyone involved,” she affirmed.
ACP Ansah-Akrofi further added that the police are also actively engaging with stakeholders, including party leaders and CSOs, to foster collaboration aimed at ensuring peace in the country.
“This engagement is crucial for maintaining stability as we move forward,” while adding that, “By working together with various groups, the police aim to create a unified front against any potential disruptions and to promote a culture of dialogue and understanding among all parties involved in the electoral process.”
By Prince Fiifi Yorke