Election 2024: Keep the Military Away from the Ballot Box – Adams Bonaa Warns
Deploying the military to polling stations could intimidate voters, discouraging participation and undermining democracy
- The Ghana Police Service is fully equipped to manage election security
- Despite legislative efforts, the number of political vigilante groups has surged
- Dr. Bonaa urges voters to prioritize leaders who demonstrate accountability
Security analyst Dr. Adams Bonaa has strongly advised against deploying military personnel at polling stations for the upcoming December 7 elections.
He emphasized that the Ghana Police Service is adequately equipped to manage election-related activities and that military involvement should only occur in a state of emergency.
“We are not under attack,” Dr. Bonaa stated during a democracy lecture series in Accra, themed “Ghana’s Democracy Development: Evaluating the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act 2019 for Peaceful December 2024 Elections.” This event was organized by Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana (Care Ghana) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).
Dr. Bonaa highlighted rising electoral violence and inflammatory remarks from officials, calling for greater transparency to ensure fair elections. He noted that, despite efforts to disband political vigilante groups, their numbers have surged to 72 since the Vigilantism Act was introduced in 2019, with many evolving into disguised forms of enforcement within security services.
He warned that individuals involved in these activities often receive promotions, posing a significant threat to Ghana’s democratic integrity.
Dr. Bonaa urged voters to choose leaders who prioritize accountability and called for a just judiciary to maintain public trust.
