Election security: Police disassociation from DCOP Waabu’s remarks “strange”, says Mahama
The former president finds it strange that the police disassociated itself from the remarks, which emphasised the sole responsibility of the institution for election security in the upcoming polls
The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama has come to the defence of DCOP Gabriel Prince Waabu, who recently commented on the role of the police in election security during a panel discussion earlier this week.
The former president finds it strange that the police disassociated itself from the remarks, which emphasised the sole responsibility of the police for election security in the upcoming 2024 polls.
The Ghana Police Service, through a press release, labelled DCOP Waabu’s comments as “unfortunate” and “unfounded,” asserting that they did not represent the official position of the security agency. The statement reiterated the collaborative nature of election security, as outlined in the National Election Security Architecture.
Reacting to the development Mahama insisted that internal disciplinary measures against the senior officer were unjustified.
“If we must have peaceful elections, we must have security services that are neutral. Security services that are loyal to the State and not any other political party.”
“And that is why I find strange the police service’s disassociation from the statement by one of their own about the role of the military in the election and I think he was right. The primary responsibility for election is that of the Ghana Police Service”, he said.
He was speaking at an event marking the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission Centenary of Islamic revival in Ghana at Gomoa Pomadze in the Central Region.
Mahama took the opportunity to advocate for justice in preventing electoral violence, citing incidents such as those in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency.
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom
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