The National Elections Security Taskforce (NESTF), under the chairmanship of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has held a high-level meeting with the leadership of political parties to discuss security arrangements for the upcoming December General Elections.
The meeting, which took place at the Police Headquarters in Accra on Thursday, 21st November 2024, aimed to brief political leaders on the final security measures instituted to ensure a peaceful electoral process.
Speaking at the meeting, the IGP underscored its commitment to professionalism, fairness, and strict adherence to the rule of law.
“We assure you of our dedication to creating a secure environment for the elections. Our actions will be impartial and guided by the law, and anyone who violates these laws will be made to face the law,” the IGP said.
Political leaders were also invited to voice their security concerns following months of nationwide campaigns. The IGP acknowledged the trust political parties have demonstrated in the Ghana Police Service as the leading law enforcement agency under the Taskforce, referencing their reliance on the Service during their internal elections and by-elections, which were largely incident-free.
Commending the political parties for their efforts to ensure peaceful campaigns, the IGP emphasized the importance of maintaining this trend. He assured the leaders that the security arrangements for election day are robust, with adequate measures in place to prevent any disturbances.
The IGP, however, reminded political stakeholders of the realities of the electoral process, noting that while the elections will see 12 presidential aspirants and 801 parliamentary candidates, only one presidential candidate and 276 parliamentary hopefuls will emerge victorious.
“We urge you to prepare for both victory and defeat. Ultimately, the power lies with the Ghanaian people. The true winner of this election is Ghana, and when Ghana wins, Africa and the black race win,” he stated.
A representative from the Electoral Commission (EC) also took the opportunity to address additional concerns raised by the political parties’ representatives regarding the electoral processes.
IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare concluded with a call for patriotism and responsibility from all stakeholders, including political parties, candidates, and the Electoral Commission, urging them to work within the confines of the law to ensure a peaceful and successful election.
The meeting ended with a commitment from the other members of the National Elections Security Taskforce, namely the Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Ghana Armed Forces, to uphold its professional and impartial mandate, while urging the political parties to embrace love, peace and unity as the country heads to the polls.
