National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has voiced criticism against Major General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona, the Chief of Army Staff, for his recent remarks regarding election security responsibilities.
During a program in Kumasi last month, Major General Onwona asserted that the military holds a significant role in ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections. He urged military commanders at all levels to prioritize peacekeeping within their jurisdictions.
Nketiah’s critique stems from Major General Onwona’s statements, questioning the military’s involvement in election security.
“We are in an election year and much will be expected of each and every one of us. We have a greater responsibility to ensure a free, fair and transparent election by performing our duties professionally at all times,” said the Chief of Army Staff.
But in an interview on Inside Politics on TV XYZ, Asiedu Nketia condemned the comment and said whoever said that needs to go back to the military training school to learn the duties of the military.
“He should go back to training school again; he should go and read the constitution. The work of the military is to fight Ghana’s external enemies. Is he trying to say that Ghanaian voters are enemies of the state?” he said.
The astute politician emphasised that the military bears no responsibility for overseeing election centres, a duty reserved for Ghana Police Service officials. He stressed that according to the country’s laws, the police are mandated to uphold law and order, including during elections.
“Ensuring free and fair elections is the responsibility of the police. When the police are overwhelmed during elections, that is when they call for the military to support, even with that the military will be working under the orders of the police.
“We will not allow the military to come to election centres to take over security and end up shooting innocent voters and other Ghanaians as they did in 2020…anyone who has a contrary view should come and challenge me,” he added.
Asiedu Nketiah strongly asserted that the NDC would not stand idly by while the military assumed control of polling stations on election day, intimidating voters and inciting chaos.