The Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at the Center for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana), Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, has raised concerns over the lack of accountability in the state security apparatus, warning that it could undermine discipline and peace during the 2024 elections.
According to him, the hesitancy to hold security personnel accountable for violations of the law is a major obstacle to ensuring public trust and peaceful electoral processes.
In an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, November 30, Dr. Asante noted that incidents during the 2020 elections, where security forces were implicated in acts that led to injuries and fatalities, remain unresolved.
“With the issue of accountability, I think we can only continue to preserve peace and promote peace if people are held accountable for violations of the law. But it appears that when it comes to the security sector, we have a hesitancy to hold people accountable. And I think in the command and control structure, if accountability doesn’t exist, that presents a huge problem for how you impose discipline.
“The state officers, security officers who conducted themselves during the elections, where the courts have found that the illegally basically cause fatalities and injuries, if there is no accountability, then, it means we are sending a message that the security sector is about the law. You cannot build any society that way,” he stressed.
He added that the reluctance of successive governments to ensure accountability within the security sector erodes public confidence and compromises discipline within the command and control structure.
He therefore called for stronger measures to hold security officers accountable for their actions to deter misconduct and preserve peace during the elections.
Dr. Asante also raised critical questions about the military’s role in the upcoming elections, emphasizing the need for transparency and clarity.
He cited past incidents where the military’s presence at collation centers created public anxiety and called on the Electoral Commission and the Election Security Task Force to define the military’s role explicitly.
He added that public understanding of security arrangements at polling stations and collation centers is critical to maintaining calm during the elections.
“We’ve received assurances that the military won’t be at polling stations, but their presence at collation centers in past elections raises concerns. If they are to be involved, their role must be clearly defined and communicated to the public to avoid misunderstandings,” he explained.
Reflecting on lessons from previous elections, Dr. Asante underscored the importance of addressing unresolved security issues to prevent a repeat of the problems encountered in 2020. He urged the Election Security Task Force to provide detailed information on security protocols to reassure the public and promote transparency.
“The public needs to know what to expect, especially concerning the military’s involvement. Without this clarity, we risk heightened tensions that could disrupt the electoral process,” he warned.
