Security analyst Dr. Adam Bonaa has spoken out against the deployment of military personnel at polling stations during Ghana’s upcoming December 7 elections, arguing that their presence could potentially undermine the fairness of the electoral process. Speaking at a democracy lecture in Accra, Dr. Bonaa suggested that stationing soldiers near polling areas might be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate voters, which could be “tantamount to stealing the elections.” He emphasized that the police, who are already equipped and trained for election-related duties, should be the primary force handling security at these venues.
Dr. Bonaa urged authorities to strengthen existing institutions, arguing that the military should only be deployed in extreme situations, such as during a state of emergency, rather than standard electoral activities. His comments were part of a broader discussion on Ghana’s security protocols for the elections, organized by the civil society group Care for Free and Fair Elections Ghana (Care Ghana) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). The event addressed concerns about electoral violence, including the implementation of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act of 2019, intended to curb the influence of vigilante groups on election processes.
With this call for institutional strengthening and judicial neutrality, Dr. Bonaa highlighted the need to ensure that voters feel safe and confident, which he considers essential for a peaceful and credible election outcome.
