Election Security a challenge for EC

This write up is for Centre for African Democratic Affairs (CADA) to draw attention to ECs role in Election Security going into 2016 general elections and also important to state from the outset that the intent is to impress upon EC to incorporate security management for electoral processes into its existing core activities to steer 2016 Ghana election from the violence.

The perception gathered from public discourse after the recent Talensi bye-election in the media, press releases and conferences by political parties and expert opinions shared by Security Analyst, points to the fact that the 2016 elections, if care is not taken, is likely to be marred by violence. This observation was made by the Ghanaian populace in response to the mayhem unleashed by Asoka Boys, Invincible Forces and Bolga Bulldogs (all arm bandits) in Talensi, and specially, after the famous ‘violence bigot violence’ comment by the Interior Minister.

Bye-elections held in the past years in Atiwa, Chereponi, Akwatia and the last Voter Registration exercise to mention a few, were all laced with avoidable violent incidences orchestrated by ‘militant groups’ supported by known political parties. There was never any arrest and prosecution of any kind, this has over the years emboldened these groups and have now become daring and acting with impunity even in the presence of the state security.

The irony is that in the midst of the abhorrence and condemnation of these incidences by Ghanaians, the Electoral Commission will look the face of Ghanaians, mount the moral high grounds and declare the election results free, fair and transparent with the usual saying ‘the security incidence did not affect the elections’ thereby creating the impression that the violence is permissible. To say the least this attitude of the EC is unacceptable and only serve to dent the image of EC itself in the eyes of the international community

EC ENJOINED RESPONSIBILITY
The 1992 constitution states that the EC of Ghana “shall not be subject to the control or direction of any authority------”. This by extension means that no private or state institution can directly or indirectly get involved in matters of elections without the express permission of EC and once the permission is given, EC must have oversight responsibility to ensure that the activities, actions and inactions of any private or public institution involved in elections do not impinge on the integrity of the electoral process.

It is the considered opinion of CADA that Electoral Commission has enormous responsibility to strictly provide assistance to the Police to guide their activities and actions before, during and after elections, irrespective of the fact that Ghana Police is a State institution with experience because election security is a specialised area and not all police personnel who have this requisite experience

It is the EC’s neglect to supervise the Police activities that has fuelled the perception that influential politicians and those in power do take advantage to manipulate the police. For instance EC know better, what to specifically request from the State security when it comes to threat to election.

Threat to elections is defined as any activity, event or actions that are intended to have adverse effect on election staff, facilities or equipment as opposed to security risk, defined as those events or circumstances which exist in the operational environment but are not purposely directed towards election interests. The later can be dealt with in normal police function.

TYPES OF THREATS
Intimidation or targeting of election officials, Intimidation or harassment of journalists Incitement to violence in the media or public, Protecting, expanding, or delineating turf or ‘no-go zones’, Attacks on election rallies or candidates, Intimidation of voters to compel them to vote or stay away, Physical attacks on election materials such as snatching and destruction of ballot boxes, Armed clashes among political parties, Violent clashes among groups of rival supporters, Vandalism and physical attacks on property of opponents, Targeted attacks against specific candidates or political parties, Attacks on rivals who have either won in elections, or were defeated, Violent street protests and efforts by armed police to maintain or restore order, tear gas, firing on protestors, attacks by protestors on property or the police, Escalation and perpetuation of ethnic or sectarian violence.

EC SECURITY FUNCTIONS
The EC should appoint an Elections Security Officer or make a request to the Police to get a seconded staff to oversee the design and implementation of a country-wide security plan in coordination with the Security Agencies.

His function will include coordination of EC security activities at the EC Headquarters level, the supervision of field security, as well as the provision of all appropriate operational briefings and training for the security Agencies and establishment of a Joint Elections Operations Centre (JEOC) at the EC headquarters or any appropriate location in Accra and replicated in the regions and districts to serve an equivalent function at the local level.

Monitor and ensure thorough adherence to the security plan, to respond to the wide variety of envisioned security scenarios to which the election process may be exposed.

Close liaison and coordination with GoG security elements for the activities, the use of armed escort as much as possible and maintaining strong security training and awareness for the personnel

Identify hotspots (fragile security locations) in coordination with the Security Agencies and the most likely threats in each constituency and provide a clear order of priority for concerted efforts to be made to mitigate and manage these concerns and to allow resources to be targeted for maximum effect. In cases where the Police fail to deploy the right number of personnel to hotspots and poorly equip them EC must insist on having the full compliment. In the past such situations pose little or no deterrence to ‘macho’ men and armed or militia groups loyal to political parties to visit mayhem on voters.
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Careful selection of all election related sites and the maintenance of security for Polling Staff, electoral materials and equipment and situational awareness through a well-developed public information strategy to support election operation and ensure timely distribution of security information/advisories.

CADA is optimistic that the above-mentioned recommendations, if EC will accept and implement the overall security environment that is the threat to election operations will be low in 2016.