Ghana sets up security taskforce to ensure violence-free election

Ghana's Minister for the Interior Mark Owen Woyongo on Wednesday inaugurated a national election security taskforce to develop strategies for free, fair and peaceful presidential and parliamentary polls later in the year.

The taskforce will also serve as the frontline elections intelligence collection, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement for national security.

Woyongo asked the security agencies and all relevant stakeholders to plan ahead in providing the needed security to ensure a peaceful and fair election, a role they have discharged successfully over the years.

"It is my hope that the activation of the taskforce and the strategies to be adopted by these taskforces will also effectively deal with undesirable incidents such as shooting, ballot box snatching, vandalization of property and other violence," he said.

The taskforce comprises representatives of all government security institutions at the national and regional levels.

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, John Kudalor, said the election was an important national exercise which must not be characterized by vile propaganda, violence and all manner of acts that could compromise the security of the nation.

He disclosed that the security agencies would disband private security bodies of vigilante groups associated with some political parties who take the law into their hands.

Amadu Sulley, a Deputy Chair of the Electoral Commission, welcomed the formation of the taskforce and prayed that it would be with the commission throughout the election cycle.

The taskforce will be replicated at the regional and district levels. Endit