Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Adukwei Mensa, has clarified that the EC is not responsible for ensuring security during elections.
Her statement comes as a response to misconceptions about the Commission’s role in the electoral process.
In a recent briefing to Parliament ahead of the 2024 elections, Madam Mensa emphasized that the EC’s duties are strictly related to election management and not security.
She explained that the EC collaborates with the National Election Security Task Force, which is led by the Inspector General of Police, to safeguard voters and election materials at polling stations across the country.
“Our role is to collaborate with them by providing details of all our centres and our printing arrangements, enabling them to work with us and protect the ballots, especially during transportation to the regions,” Mensa said.
She further clarified, “We have often heard that the Electoral Commission is responsible for security, but we want to emphasize that this is the mandate of the security agencies. The police are co-responsible for security before, during, and after elections, and they make all security decisions independently of the Electoral Commission.”