The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) has described the violence that erupted at Bawaleshie during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-elections on Thursday as unwarranted and unfortunate.
A statement issued by Mr Theodora Williams Anti, Programmes Manager, FOSDA, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the Foundation was calling on the Interior Minister, who was in charge of internal security of the country to explain to Ghanaians precisely what happened at Bawaleshie.
The Minister should also explain the objective behind the unusual heavy deployment of security forces, including the presence of what appeared to be "strange masked security persons", unknown to the security apparatus in official police vehicles.
"We have monitored many elections in Ghana in this fourth republic and we have not experienced such heavy deployment of security forces. Clearly the presence and actions of the ‘strange masked security men" caused the violence that marred an otherwise peaceful by- election in the Ayawaso West Constituency," it said.
"Unless the Interior Minister has a very good explanation, this incidence will further deepen the mistrust for the police and other security agencies that recent incidences have created among the citizenry."
The statement said the Foundation was concerned about the consistent dwindling of confidence in Ghana's Security Forces, especially the police, in recent times.
It said these incidences which peaked with Thursday's violence at Bawaleshie might be symptoms of serious challenges within internal security arrangement and must be addressed boldly and urgently to save the country from more serious security challenges.
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