By Rebecca Ekpe
For now, December 7, 2024, remains trending in Ghana as citizens prepare to elect a President and 275 members of Parliament. This event has been marked on the calendar of Political Pundits as a day to test the resilience of Ghana’s democracy, placing Election Security a priority on the agenda of stakeholders.
Peace is a key concern to election partners. The fairness and equity in the allocation and use of security resources. Deployment of military during elections, as the Military has always played a role in election security under the 4th Republic.
Another key issue of concern is post-election accountability and prosecution of violent offences from the 2020 elections. Political vigilantism and the enforcement of the anti-vigilantism act are all key issues of concern: responding to misinformation and disinformation with balance and the response options.
‘’How should the security sector respond to these issues before, during and after the elections to guarantee rights of individuals, ensure the security of state and peace of the country?’’, according to Dr. Kojo Asante, (PhD), Director of Programs and Policy Engagement at the Center for Democratic Development (CDD).
At a National Elections Security RoundTable, in Accra, convened by the Foundation for Security Development in Africa (FOSDA), a number of recommendations were made which was attended by key stakeholder security agencies, organizations, political parties, CSOs and the media.
Mrs. Theodora Williams Anti, Executive Director of FOSDA underscored the importance of an election security roundtable and stated that, ‘’the relevant disclosure of information about the National Elections Security Task Force for the upcoming election will promote transparency, engender trust and confidence I the security services to deliver a peaceful and secure environment for the elections.
In his recommendations, Dr. Kojo Asante said by way of fostering fairness and equity in the allocation and use of Security Resource, the National Elections Task Force should engage all Candidates and parties to discuss the provision of security for flag bearers and their Vice-Presidential Candidates.
”In addition, to discuss ground rules on campaigning in the next two months before elections”.
On the issue of Deployment of the Military During Elections, he posits that communities ought to be engaged, ”particularly border areas, community entry engagement and entry must be improved this time around”.
Dr. Kojo Asante is of the view that the Police should remain more ”suited for dealing with crowds at Collation Centers and should be deployed as such”.
Misinformation/disinformation and for that matter fake news is lurking in the background of the December 7 elections.
Experts at the Round Table on Elections agree on a more synergized approach to combating the menace, where early warning systems including the application by the National Media Commission (NMC), the Monitoring by the Media Foundation for West Africa, (MFWA), the National Election Response Group, (NERG).
Furthermore, CODEO on elections day should also work closely with the various Observers to mitigate the incidence of violence during the polls
