Defence Minister opens up on heavy military deployment in Ablekuma North rerun

The Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has assured Ghanaians that there will be no military deployment for today’s parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency.

In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, Dr. Boamah emphasized the government’s dedication to ensuring peace, security, and respect for democratic principles throughout the electoral process.

“To ensure a peaceful and democratic process, the Ghana Police Service will be fully in charge of security for today’s elections in Ablekuma North Constituency,” he stated.

He repeated the message clearly — “there will be no military deployment” — in response to growing public concerns, particularly fears of intimidation or unrest during the rerun. His statement sought to reassure voters that security would be handled without the presence of armed forces.

Dr. Boamah also referenced past election-related incidents, such as the violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election and the killing of eight people in the 2020 general elections. He urged all stakeholders to learn from those events and prioritise safety.

“Let’s learn from past experiences… and prioritise citizen safety and security,” he said, stressing the importance of maintaining peace during democratic exercises.

He further expressed full confidence in the Ghana Police Service to manage the security arrangements effectively.

“The Ghana Police Service is trained to handle electoral security, and we trust them to do their job,” he added.

Dr. Boamah concluded with a message of calm and civic duty, encouraging voters to peacefully participate in shaping the country’s future.

“Keep the peace and make our voices heard as John Dramani Mahama resets Ghana and creates more opportunities for Ghanaians,” he said.