Election: Movement for Change’s Ohene Ntow warns against Executive interference in election security

The Director of Elections Planning and Coordination of Movement for Change, Nana Ohene Ntow, has raised concerns about the persistent interference by executive branch officials in the operations of security personnel during elections.

He has called for decisive measures to address this issue ahead of the 2024 polls.

Speaking on JoyNews’ on Saturday, November 30, Mr. Ntow highlighted how Regional Ministers, District Chief Executives (DCEs), and even Ministers often assert undue authority over security personnel on Election Day, undermining the independence of the Electoral Commission’s (EC) Election Security Task Force.

“The specific concern we have raised repeatedly is that despite the inspector general of police’s Election Security Task Force, the reality on Election Day is different. Executive branch officials—Regional Ministers, DCEs, and Ministers—often obstruct the operations of Election Security Task Force personnel.

“You would find a Regional Minister or a DCE telling a security officer, ‘You work under me.’ This dynamic places security personnel in a difficult position, as they may feel compelled to comply with these directives even when it compromises their neutrality or breaches protocols,” he said.

While acknowledging assurances from authorities, Mr. Ntow emphasized the need for enforceable measures to curb such interference. He noted that existing directives prohibiting interference often fail to prevent officials from exerting undue influence.

“Even when directives are issued stating that security personnel should not interfere, the real problem lies with the officials themselves, not just their security teams. Clear, practical arrangements are necessary to enforce these assurances effectively,” he stated.

Mr. Ntow urged the Electoral Commission, the Election Security Task Force, and the National Security Council to implement stricter protocols to restrict executive overreach.

“Assurances are not enough; we need actionable steps that confirm those assurances on the ground,” he added.

He also called on civil society and political parties to monitor and report any instances of interference to protect the credibility of the electoral process and ensure free and fair elections.