Various state security agencies and other stakeholders including National Security, the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and the Electoral Commission have given assurance that they are ready for the 2020 presidential election.
Accordingly, the security service told Parliament their preparedness to provide adequate security to ensure peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7.
Political parties and all other stakeholders have therefore been charged to uphold unity as the ultimate value that should guide their actions, during and after the elections as the security forces will crash anybody or group that will create confusion on election day.
National Security Minister Mr. Kan Dapaah in his address to Members of Parliament yesterday stressed it will be self-defeating and meaningless to pursue political interests at the detriment of the state.
IGP James Oppong-Boanuh 
Chief of the Defence Staff General Obed Akwa
He stated that as the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections approach, the state is confronted with a huge test in the election-related violence given the high stakes involved in competitive political contests.
According to him, even when there is a common goal to be pursued, the very nature of democratic politics creates disagreements resulting from political differences and interests of competing political parties.
“However, in the pursuit of our interest should not be allowed to deepen the political fault lines which when unchecked could degenerate into political instability.
“It is important that Ghanaians refrain from divisive and hate speech that can endanger the peace and security of our dear country,” he said.
Conduct of politicians
Mr. Kan Dapaah lamented what he described as a deliberate attempt by certain politicians to create a false notion of rising insecurity in the country contrary to all the evidence that suggests a reduction in crime levels in the country.
This, false notion of insecurity, he said, stems from deliberate politicization of issues of national security, which has become pronounced as the 2020 elections approach.
“These politicians, at one moment, openly threaten violence should they lose the elections and another time, express concern about rising insecurity country. This is unacceptable and must be condemned in no uncertain terms,” he said.
The Minister stressed that despite politicization of issues of national security, which has the potential to undermine efforts of State security agencies, state security actors have remained resolute in ensuring a peaceful secured environment for all Ghanaians.
He disclosed that a few days ago he met notable security experts of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) where both parties unanimously pledged to ensure a violent free election.
Personnel of the State security and intelligence agencies, he said, are working relentlessly in their service to the country and would ensure a peaceful and safe Ghana before, during and after the December polls.
IGP’s assurance
The Inspector-General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh, in his address indicated the police have identified all the hotspots in the impending elections and had put in place measures to forestall any violence.
He explained that though the Ghana Police is responsible for general security during the elections, officers of other state security agencies like the Prison Service, Immigration, and Customs would be brought in as support.
Unbiased security
National Coordinator for Ghana Boundary Commission and a high ranking military official, Brigadier Dr. Emmanuel Wekem Kotia, in his statement, warned that any bias from the election security taskforce could plunge the country into chaos during the December 7 elections.
He urged members of the taskforce, drawn from all security agencies, to therefore eschew partiality in the discharge of their duties.
