Election SecurityWill Be Robust -IGP Dampare Insists

The Chairman of the National Election Security Taskforce (NESTF), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, says his outfit has a comprehensive and durable security plan that will bring about peaceful, free and fair elections next month.

His comments come barely two days after he used the commissioning of a police station in the Eastern Region to assure Ghanaians that security at this year’s election will be tough.

Speaking in a meeting with the leadership of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Accra yesterday, Dr Dampare emphasised extensive security measures that have been put in place to safeguard law and order before, during and after the polls.

IGP Dampare told the CSOs about the critical role of trust and collaboration in achieving a peaceful electoral process.

According to him, the comprehensive election security measures they have put in place started two years ago and that it is the first of its kind in the history of Ghana.

He revealed that comprehensive framework had been designed to not only address immediate needs, but also serve as a standard for the next three decades.

“This blueprint will be the standard security plan for elections now and beyond, with an enduring 30 years from now in mind,” he stated, adding that the same strategy had driven the success of recent by-elections and internal political party elections, with support from stakeholders and the good of Ghana.

The IGP further disclosed that the operational aspects of the plan have already been disseminated nationwide.

“As we speak, the aspect of the blueprint that relates to the 7th December, 2024 elections has so far been distributed across the country and officers are going through to know where they will be deployed during the elections,” he explained.

He acknowledged challenges faced in past elections and insisted on the critical role of collation centres in the electoral process.

“We have also realised that most of the challenges during elections come from the collation centres,” he said.

To address this, the National Elections Security Taskforce has been working closely with the Electoral Commission to ensure all collation centres earmarked for the 2024 general elections meet strict security standards and are equipped to support an orderly process.

The Inspector-General of Police reiterated the importance of public confidence in the security forces ahead of the general elections.

He urged stakeholders and the media to disseminate the message of assurance to Ghanaians to build trust in the system’s ability to deliver a peaceful election to safeguard Ghana’s continuous democratic success.

Dr. Dampare also warned against individuals or groups planning to disrupt the elections. “We have addressed isolated incidents of violence swiftly and will continue to pursue those involved. No one can escape accountability,” he said, emphasising the law enforcement agency’s commitment to justice and peace.

“From the campaign period to Election Day and beyond, we are confident in the peace and security we have worked so hard for. Let us all commit to making this election a success,” he said.

Representatives from Civil Society Organisations, including the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI) were present at the briefing.

Reverend Fred Degbe, a founding member of CFI, praised the security agencies for their proactive approach.

“This level of preparation and engagement builds confidence in the electoral process. We urge Ghanaians to support the police and other agencies to ensure a peaceful election,” Rev. Degbe remarked.

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