The Member of Parliament for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Toobu, has joined calls for a free, peaceful, and fair election on December 7.
According to him, Ghana’s three decades of democratic experience should be sufficient to guarantee a violence-free poll.
Speaking on JoyNews’ News Desk on Thursday, the retired police officer expressed confidence in the Police and Military to effectively manage this year’s election.
He also expressed hope for a more transparent election process compared to that of four years ago.
“We have been in this democracy for almost 32 years. I think the police and the military are at a level where we should be better than in the 2020 election. I want to believe that, with the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Inspector General of Police—two gentlemen I know very well—I believe that the 2024 election will be one of the most peaceful,” he said.
He added, “And the results will come and flow like milk and honey, without disturbance.”
Mr Toobu also stated, “This election must be peaceful, and I am saying, as an ordinary civilian, that if the police are professionally apt, and any other person who appears in uniform is believed to be an imposter, we will deal with such individuals ruthlessly.”
Also speaking about the comments made by the Commanding Officer of the Achiase Jungle Warfare School in the Eastern Region, Lt Col Jacob Cudjoe, who stated that individuals who remain at polling stations after voting would be subjected to beatings, the retired police officer condemned the comment and warned against military involvement in the election.
He explained that, within the security structure, some statements are made as warnings to people with malicious intentions, while others are intended to call for calm.
However, the Commanding Officer’s statement is inappropriate for a democratic country like Ghana.
On the police side, the IGP, Dr George Dampare Akufo, said the police will use existing resources to ensure a peaceful election.
The comments by the two security agencies have since been receiving criticism from the public, especially members of the main opposition party, the NDC.
Both state and private organisations continue to organise events to promote the need for a peaceful election, as the nation has barely two weeks remaining before the polls to vote for MPs and the President, forming the 8th government under the 4th Republic since Ghana transitioned to civilian government in the early 1990s.
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