Election Watch Ghana, a non-partisan civil society organization, has submitted a formal petition to the Minister of Defence, requesting a review of the assignment of military personnel to the Electoral Commission's (EC) Chairperson and deputies.
Dated February 14, 2025, the petition argues that "assigning over ten military personnel to the EC leadership is excessive, unnecessary, and an inefficient use of national security resources." The group described this arrangement as an "imprudent allocation of military assets," asserting that it contradicts the principles of democratic governance in Ghana.
The petition highlights Ghana's history of peaceful electoral processes, emphasizing that previous Electoral Commissions have operated effectively under police protection without the involvement of military forces.
According to the document, co-signed by Jude Balma and Mark Awusi Arkoh both conveners, "the presence of military personnel at Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meetings has created an intimidating environment, suppressing open and meaningful discussions on electoral matters." Election Watch Ghana also cited international best practices, noting that the United Nations recommends proportionate security deployment for civilian institutions.
