Elections Watch Ghana, a civil society organisation, has called for all military personnel assigned to the Electoral Commissioner and her deputies to be removed.
The CSO requests that the soldiers assigned to the EC Chair and her deputies be reviewed immediately.
Convener Mark Ewusi Arkoh said Ghana, as an African country, has over the years demonstrated commitment to peaceful elections and a solid track record of political tolerance.
He stated that the commissioners are guarded by both police and military personnel, but the number of soldiers is higher.
Mr. Arkoh indicated that since 1992, there has been a very modest security architecture that has given protection to the Electoral Commission and that has not been compromised.
Appearing on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said there are over ten soldiers guarding the EC chair and deputies, which we see as excessive and unwarranted. The Rambo-style security arrangements deployed to guard the EC Chair and how sometimes they join the other party advisory meeting don’t contribute positively to our national security in connection with the protection given to the chairperson and her deputies.
He argued that we have to look at international best practices. UN specifications provide very modest security presence for countries, including Ghana, but when you examine the number of soldiers given to the EC Chair and her deputies, it far exceeds the recommendations.
He told host Kwabena Agyapong that this matter needed to be addressed in order to avoid creating unneeded tensions.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
