Election 2012 - 20,000 To Provide Security

Twenty thousand security personnel are to be deployed nationwide to provide security and maintain law and order during and after the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

The personnel, from the police service, Ghana Armed Forces, Prisons Service, Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), are also to protect Ghana’s territory against external infiltration.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, who made this known, said more than 10,000 security personnel had already been trained on election security maintenance under a programme sponsored by the British Government.

He said the various departments were providing in-service training for some security personnel to increase the number to more than 20,000.

The IGP made this known at the Tesano Police Depot when President John Dramani Mahama handed over 194 vehicles, including ambulances, to support the police to provide security during the elections and beyond.

The President had earlier presented 265 vehicles, comprising 200 military pick-ups, 30 civil pick-ups, 20 ambulances and 15 buses equipped with communication gadgets to the military at the Burma Camp.

President Mahama had earlier held a meeting with the security command bordering on national security and the preparation of the military towards the elections. Also in attendance was the Minister of Defence, Lt Gen J. H. Smith.

The IGP said the police were on the ground to ensure law and order and warned those who would want to create chaos of the preparedness of the police to deal with them.

He charged the police to be fair to all, saying, “If we are to maintain the peace and security of this country, every policeman and woman must enforce the laws equally among all political parties and politicians, be they in government or in opposition.”

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen Augustine Peter Blay, told the President that the military would deploy 5,000 men to support the police to maintain law and order during and after the elections.

He said the military and the police had already conducted surveillance and security checks.

He said Ghana’s borders were secure and, therefore, asked Ghanaians not to entertain any fears before, during and after the elections.

Lt Gen Blay assured the President of the commitment of the military to be vigilant and professional in the discharge of their duties.

Speaking at both functions, President Mahama reminded the security personnel of their loyalty to the Constitution and Ghanaians.

He, therefore, urged them to be neutral and non-partisan in the discharge of their duties during and after the elections.

The Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwesi Aboah,also assured that the security services were prepared to ensure incident-free elections.