The National Elections Security Taskforce, under the leadership of Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare, has issued a firm directive to private security operatives, cautioning them against meddling in the duties of state security forces before, during, and after the upcoming elections on Saturday.
This warning comes amid concerns over past electoral violence involving vigilante groups, some of which have functioned as private security for political figures.
During a meeting with the Association of Private Security Organizations, IGP Dampare reaffirmed that state security agencies would take full responsibility for maintaining order and ensuring peaceful elections. He emphasized the importance of creating a safe and intimidation-free environment for voters.
“The only entity responsible for providing security is the state security and nobody else. We don’t want a situation where the ordinary Ghanaian voter feels confused or intimidated by any presence of uniforms that might discourage them from showing up to cast their votes,” he stated.
IGP Dampare assured the public, saying, “To Ghanaians, we want you to know that we have your back. You can walk into polling stations with confidence, knowing that no one can intimidate you. We are here for you, the political parties, and their candidates, to ensure trust in the system. There’s no need for any entity to provide private security, as we are fully in charge.”
The taskforce also engaged with the Commonwealth Observer Mission, led by former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, to assure them of the nation’s preparedness for the polls and the measures in place to guarantee a smooth electoral process.