The Minority has accused the government of using military personnel to intimidate voters under the pretext of enforcing a newly imposed ban on grain exports. This accusation follows the severe drought currently impacting the northern regions of the country.
On Monday, August 26, the government announced an immediate ban on grain exports, with Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul confirming that military personnel had been deployed to enforce the ban at the country’s borders.
However, the Minority has raised concerns about the true purpose of the military deployment, suggesting that it may be an attempt to suppress votes.
James Agalga, the Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, addressed the issue during a press conference in Accra on Friday. He stated, “If they have no ulterior motives, they should have provided timelines. The absence of timelines raises suspicions that the government is using the drought-related crisis in the north and potential food security challenges as a cover to deploy the military and intimidate voters.”
He added, “Otherwise, there should be timelines. We further support our concerns with what occurred in the lead-up to the 2020 elections… So our suspicions are justified.”