No Military Deployment in Ablekuma North Rerun – Defence Minister
Police to take full charge of security as Minister cites past electoral violence to justify non-military approach
- No military presence in Ablekuma North rerun, says Defence Minister
- Police solely in charge of election security
- Decision aims to prevent electoral violence and ensure a peaceful process
Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah has assured that no military personnel will be deployed for today’s parliamentary election rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency.
In a Facebook post, the minister confirmed that the Ghana Police Service will take full responsibility for maintaining security throughout the electoral process, emphasizing the need for a peaceful, democratic, and citizen-centered environment.
“To ensure a peaceful and democratic process, the Ghana Police Service will be fully in charge of security for today’s elections in Ablekuma North. There will be no military deployment,” he stated.
Dr. Boamah cited previous election-related incidents, including the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence and the tragic loss of eight lives in the 2020 general elections, as reasons for avoiding military involvement in electoral affairs.
He underscored the importance of learning from past mistakes and reaffirmed trust in the professionalism of the police to manage election security.
He also called on voters to conduct themselves peacefully, encouraged transparency through the use of body cameras, and expressed optimism in Ghana’s democratic values.
The rerun, taking place in 19 polling stations, was triggered by disputes over the 2024 parliamentary results, leaving Ablekuma North temporarily unrepresented in Parliament.
