Some retired senior security officers in the country have admonished electorates to exercise their franchise in a more peaceful manner to consolidate Ghana’s enviable democratic credentials.
The officers include former Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, Brigadier General Wallace Gbedemah (Rtd), Brigadier General Ben Freeman Kusi (Rtd), Brigadier General Fuseini Iddrisu (Rtd) and Brigadier General Musa Whajah (Rtd).
Others are Brigadier General Morphy Yeboah (Rtd), Brigadier General Issah Wuni (Rtd) and Ambassador J.K. Hodare Okai.
According to the officers, it is their “moral and professional obligation” to ensure that the country is not thrown into a state of turmoil as the citizenry perform their civic responsibilities.
“Having followed the unfolding political atmosphere, in the lead up to the December 7, 2020 elections, we, the under-listed retired Senior Officers of the Security Services of Ghana, deem it a moral and professional obligation to add our voice to the concerns already expressed by civil society about the potential threats to peace and stability of our nation. We, together with the many proud Officers, men and women in uniform remain committed to helping safeguard absolute peace and stability of the motherland”, they said in a statement.
Additionally, the officers have admonished the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure that its processes are geared towards credible and transparent polls adding that the electoral management body is guided by the work of its predecessors.
“We also urge the Electoral Commission (EC) as arbiters of the electoral process to be transparent and fair in every sense of the word. Acceptance of the outcome of elections and the ensuring of peace depends on the fairness and efficiency with which affairs are conducted on D-day. Indeed, the bulk of the responsibility for the outcome and what happens thereafter rests on the EC. We entreat the august body to be guided by history, the yeoman’s work of their predecessors, and the consequent enviable image of the country in elections matters, in the international community”, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the retired officers have encouraged state security officials to commit to ensuring a peaceful election.
“We wish to remind our compatriots that the peace and national stability we have enjoyed since the inception of the 4th Republic is as a result of our shared commitment to live by the oath we take to “protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic. We take this opportunity to call on all officers of the various security agencies all across our beloved Ghana, to continue to guarantee the peace and security of Ghana before, during and after the elections. We should be seen to facilitate the free, democratic expression of choice by Ghanaians.”