No Military Deployment in Ablekuma North Rerun,” Defence Minister Declares
Dr. Omane Boamah’s day-of election directive is clear: no uniforms beyond police gear. His message—repeated thrice—is a signal of trust in Ghana’s democratic institutions and a plea for a violence-free, fair-balloting exercise in Ablekuma North.
By [clement nhyira addai], Accra – July 11, 2025
On the day of the rerun parliamentary elections in the Ablekuma North Constituency, Ghana’s Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, issued a firm assurance promising that no military personnel would be deployed to secure the process.
Taking to Facebook, Dr. Boamah emphasised that only the Ghana Police Service will assume full responsibility for election-day security at the 19 designated polling stations. “There will be no military deployment,” he repeatedly stated, aiming to quell any rising public fears of intimidation
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This assurance comes in reaction to public concern over potential militarisation of the vote, particularly following the Electoral Commission’s decision to rerun the elections. The seat became vacant after irregularities in pink sheets led to the annulment of results from December 2024.
Dr. Boamah reflected on Ghana’s turbulent electoral history, including the violence at the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election and the loss of eight lives during the 2020 polls, emphasising that such events highlight the need to trust and empower the police, not soldiers, in managing electoral security
In parallel, the Ghana Police Service has deployed a heavy presence across the constituency. The Accra Regional Command coordinated resource deployment to all polling centres, implemented traffic control measures, and installed strategic barriers to deter unauthorised access. Citizens were urged to report suspicious conduct to hotlines 18555 or 192
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Why This Matters
Precedent for future elections: Ghana’s decision to rely exclusively on police forces sets a democratic standard that distances civilian voting from military influence.
Public reassure: Dr. Boamah’s repeated assurances aimed to soothe anxieties, signalling a commitment to peaceful and credible electoral processes.
Contextual clarity: The rerun across 19 polling stations flows from the December 2024 election, whose flawed outcomes have left the seat unoccupied in Parliament.
Election Day Expectations
Security: Greater Accra Regional Police Command is managing security logistics at all polling sites.
Voter engagement: Approximately 6,000 – 7,000 eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots today
Key players: Candidates Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie of the NPP and Ewurabena Aubynn of the NDC have resumed campaigning, despite internal tensions—most notably the NPP’s initial boycott followed by Afriyie’s independent decision to contest
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