By Minister for the Interior, Henry Quartey, has reassured Ghanaians of the government’s ongoing dedication to maintaining peace and security in the nation.
He conveyed this message during a meeting with Heads of Agencies under the Ministry at his office in Accra this week.
The purpose of the meeting was to exchange ideas, strategize, and implement measures aimed at fulfilling the Ministry’s mandate, which includes ensuring internal security and upholding law and order in the country.
Mr. Henry Quartey, also the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso Central and former Greater Accra Regional Minister, has been actively engaging key stakeholders since assuming office to outline his plans for the Ministry of the Interior.
The agencies under the Ministry include the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, National Disaster Management Organisation, Narcotics Control Commission, Gaming Commission of Ghana, Ghana National Commission on Small Arms, National Peace Council, Ghana Refugee Board, and National Identification Authority.
Prior to this engagement, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, had assured that the security agencies would ensure that the 2024 elections are peaceful and incident-free.
According to the IGP, just as elections in the country have been peaceful since he assumed office, the 2024 polls will be no different.
Speaking at a meeting of the national election security task force at the Police headquarters, Dr. Akuffo Dampare also assured the chairperson of the Electoral Commission that everyone involved in the polls will be protected.
“We want to assure my sister (EC Chairperson) that we will continue to work with my colleagues here to ensure that just as elections in the country since I took over have been peaceful, the 2024 polls will be same”.
In his remarks, Chief of Defense Staff Vice Admiral Seth Amoama emphasized that the Ghana Armed Forces would offer background support to the Police and other security agencies responsible for ensuring security during the 2024 elections.
He clarified that while the army would not have a primary role in election security, they would be prepared to assist the Police upon request.
“We in the Armed Forces commit to our constitutionally mandated duty to protect this country and prevent any aggression from outside the country and also from within and we do so by air, by sea and by land, and even do at the peril of our lives”.
On the 2024 elections, the CDS noted “for the election proper we may not be in the upfront of election duties but we will be in the background to support you the Police Service and other security services. The Armed Forces is ready to act accordingly when we are called upon but for the election duties proper I will leave it to the security services to be in the forefront. We will always be in the background to act appropriately when we are called upon”.
The chairperson of the electoral commission Mrs. Jean Mensa who was at the stakeholder meeting expressed her gratitude to the security agencies for their support during elections.
