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A group of retired senior security officers have called on security personnel and other para-military agencies to act professionally and be neutral in executing their jobs during the elections.

The group on Thursday called a news conference to add their voice to calls for peace during the elections.
At a press conference, a group of concerned retired senior security officers shared their experience about wars in other countries reiterating the need for peace in the December polls.

They also called on the security services to exhibit high level of professionalism in executing their duties during the elections.

Leader of the group H.E. Major-General (Rtd) Francis Adu- Amanfoh asked them to remain neutral because ‘the sanctity, security and the future stability of our dear nation are in your hands’

The group advised politicians not to restrict their call for peace to handshakes but go beyond that by keeping their supporters in check and discourage them from engaging in activities that would threaten the elections.

"We take this opportunity to call on all officers of the various security agencies all across our beloved Ghana, to continue to guarantee the peace and security of Ghana before, during and after the elections."

Read the full statement below;

A CALL FOR PEACE AND STABILITY OF GHANA, IN THE LEAD UP TO GENERAL ELECTIONS 2020, BY SENIOR RETIRED OFFICERS OF THE SECURITY SERVICES

Having followed the unfolding political atmosphere, in the lead up to the December 7, 2020 elections, we, the under-listed retired Senior Officers of the Security Services of Ghana, deem it a moral and professional obligation to add our voice to the concerns already expressed by civil society about the potential threats to peace and stability of our nation. We, together with the many proud Officers, men and women in uniform remain committed to helping safeguard absolute peace and stability of the motherland.

We recognize that at every election time, a certain amount of tension prevails in the country. This is more so when the stakes are high as they are now. We add our voice to the call on all political actors to be measured in their rhetoric and to set the right atmosphere for their supporters in the remaining days, in the interest of peace and stability.

We also urge the Electoral Commission (EC) as arbiters of the electoral process to be transparent and fair in every sense of the word. Acceptance of the outcome of elections and the ensuring of peace depends on the fairness and efficiency with which affairs are conducted on D-day. Indeed, the bulk of the responsibility for the outcome and what happens thereafter, rests on the EC. We entreat the august body to be guided by history, the yeoman's work of their predecessors, and the consequent enviable image of the country in elections matters, in the international community.

Since the inception of the 4th Republic, our service men and women have worked tirelessly to protect the sanctity of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. As men and women in uniform, we swear an oath first and foremost to protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic at all times.

We wish to remind our compatriots that the peace and national stability we have enjoyed since the inception of the 4th Republic is as a result of our shared commitment to live by the oath we take to “protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic”.

We take this opportunity to call on all officers of the various security agencies all across our beloved Ghana, to continue to guarantee the peace and security of Ghana before, during and after the elections. We should be seen to facilitate the free, democratic expression of choice by Ghanaians. In this regard, we note the concerns of the Chiefs and people of the Volta and Oti regions over the perceived large-scale deployment of security personnel in those parts and hope this will not negatively affect the people’s enthusiasm to come out and vote. Let all be reminded to support, defend and bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution and the people of the Republic of Ghana. Observing this is both a professional and moral responsibility. We pray for the preservation of the integrity of our security institutions in these momentous times.

IGP John Kudalor (Rtd)
Brigadier General Wallace Gbedemah (Rtd)
Brigadier General Ben Freeman Kusi (Rtd)
Brigadier General Fuseini Iddrisu (Rtd)
Brigadier General Musa Whajah (Rtd)
Brigadier General Morphy Yeboah (Rtd)
Brigadier General Issah Wuni (Rtd)
Ambassador J.K. Hodare Okai