By Edward Acquah
Accra, Nov.26, GNA – The National Elections Security Taskforce has assured the public of its readiness to provide maximum security for the safe conduct of the 2024 General Election.
The Taskforce guaranteed the safety of voters, political parties, the Electoral Commission (EC), and all other stakeholders before, during, and after the December 7 polls.
Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the Inspector-General of Police and Chairman of the Taskforce, gave the assurance during a meeting with the Electoral Commission (EC) in Accra on Tuesday.
The meeting allowed the Taskforce and the EC to review the successes achieved in previous electoral activities and agree on further collaboration to ensure a peaceful election process.
The National Elections Security Taskforce, reactivated by the Police Administration in December 2023, includes leaders of various security agencies and para-security bodies such as the Fire Service, Prisons Service, Immigration Service, and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
The Taskforce’s primary responsibility is to plan and implement security strategies before, during, and after elections.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the Taskforce analysed its performance in recent electoral activities, including the distribution of ballot papers and Biometric Verification Devices to the regions.
The Taskforce also sought clarity with the EC on the schedule for its upcoming activities, including the Special Voting Exercise, and the deployment of election materials from the regions to the various constituencies, to guide their planning and mobilisation.
Dr. Dampare said the security agencies were committed to safeguarding the security of the nation before, during, and after the December 7 polls.
While commending the citizenry and political parties for conducting themselves well so far, he rallied the nation to continue to “walk the talk” and promote peace to safeguard Ghana’s democracy.
The IGP served notice that the Police would leave no stone unturned in clamping down on anyone whose conduct had the potential to jeopardise the peace of the nation.
“Let us talk and double the action. Let us continue to walk the talk of peace,” he said, adding: “We are turning the corner when it comes to our democratic dispensation.”
Briefing the Taskforce on the Commission’s activities so far, Mrs Jean Mensa, Chairperson, EC, said the body was prepared for the Special Voting Exercise slated for Monday, December 2, 2024, at 328 Centres across the country.
She said all ballot papers, except that of the Bono, Bono East and Northern regions, had been distributed and assured that those for the remaining regions would be distributed on Tuesday afternoon.
Mrs Mensa said Biometric Verification Devices had been distributed to eight regions for safe keeping in police armoury.
She said the Commission had recruited close to 210,000 temporary staff for the elections and they were undergoing training to ensure high professional standards.
Mrs Mensa reiterated that the Commission “is committed to organising peaceful, transparent, credible, and fair elections.”
Eligible Ghanaian voters will go to the polls on December 7, 2024, to elect a President and 276 Members of Parliament to lead the country in the next four years.
GNA