Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has praised the leadership of the Ghana Police Service for their critical role in ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process during the December 2024 general elections.
Speaking in an interview with TV3 on Friday, December 13, Mr. Gbande commended the proactive measures taken by the police, which, according to him, prevented any activities that could have compromised the integrity of the polls. He credited their vigilance for averting potential violence and maintaining the peace.
“The leadership of the police administration deserves commendation for their actions. They did not allow any rigging activities that could have resulted in chaos,” Mr. Gbande said.
He emphasized that the professionalism and dedication displayed by the security forces were instrumental in upholding Ghana’s democratic values and protecting the will of the electorate.
Mr. Gbande also highlighted the robust strategies adopted by the NDC to safeguard their votes, reiterating the party’s determination to resist any attempts to undermine the electoral process.
“The NDC had a robust plan to protect our votes, and we would have stopped at nothing to achieve that,” he added.
The NDC Deputy General Secretary called on all political stakeholders to build on this success by promoting transparency and fairness to further strengthen Ghana’s democratic institutions and electoral processes.
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has applauded the police for their professionalism in managing potentially volatile situations during the elections. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, December 14, Mr. Braimah noted that the police’s measured approach to tense incidents, particularly involving the youth, prevented unnecessary escalation.
“It got to a point I was scared about the actions of the youth,” he admitted. Mr. Braimah stressed that if the police had resorted to forceful crowd control measures such as tear gas or pepper spray, the situation could have spiraled into chaos and resulted in a stampede. “All that would have happened would have been unpleasant,” he added, commending the police for their restraint and tactical decision-making.
In a similar vein, former New Patriotic Party (NPP) General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow, has heaped praise on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, for his exceptional leadership and security arrangements during the December 7 polls.
Speaking on TV3’s Key Points programme on Saturday, Mr. Ohene Ntow underscored the IGP’s strategic planning and unwavering commitment to maintaining peace despite significant pressure.
“To be frank, Ghanaians must stand up for Dampare. His security arrangement and strategic planning saved this country. But for him and his team, this country would have probably tipped over,” he stated.
Mr. Ohene Ntow also commended the IGP for his insistence that the military would only be deployed under his instruction, a decision that ensured order and averted chaos. “We saw how some recalcitrant soldiers behaved, but Dampare stayed committed to his promise. God bless him for the work he did,” he added.
The commendations from Mustapha Gbande, Sulemana Braimah, and Nana Ohene Ntow reflect the consensus among political actors, civil society, and stakeholders that the Ghana Police Service’s leadership was pivotal in delivering a peaceful and credible electoral process in 2024.
