The Eastern Regional Elections Security Taskforce has affirmed its commitment towards ensuring a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the December 7 elections.

Colonel Gyadu Emmanuel, Director of Operations at the Army Headquarters, stated that the military will not be directly involved in election duties but will remain on standby to support civilian security agencies if needed.

Outlining the procedures for military intervention, Col. Gyadu indicated that the Police Service is the first line of response in maintaining election security.

The Eastern Regional Police Commander DCOP Twumasi-Ankrah, who is head of the Election Security Taskforce in the region, assured well-coordinated security for a peaceful atmosphere during and after the elections.

“As we always say, one peace, one people common destiny, then we are all going to work together to ensure that on D-Day we have a peaceful election; the dream of the national election security taskforce. We are going to do it. And the message we want to send to the public is that we stand for peace, so we want them to also stand for peace,” he stated.

Eastern Regional Commanding Officer, DCO1 Faisal Disu, admonished the security personnel to follow Standard Operating procedures for the election to swiftly call for reinforcement when the need arises.

“The military is not going to take part directly. We are going to be on standby. The security services under the Ministry of Interior are the people you are going to see close to the ballot box. Should there be any confusion, the first light of response to that is the Ghana Police Service, and we all attest to the fact that the police are capable of dealing with any threat we have envisaged.

“Until then, we will be in the barracks and our FOBs, sitting under our trees with our walkie-talkies on alert, and when the situation gets out of the hands of the police, that is when they will call us through a well-established channel. So, no soldier sitting anywhere can just take his weapon and say that there is confusion, so he is going there.”

Eastern Regional Minister Seth Acheampong urged stakeholders to desist from mischief during the election, citing recent misinformation about a broken seal on a bag containing electoral materials.