Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency and minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has asked the government to immediately withdraw the heavy military presence in the Volta region.
He says it is rather unfortunate for the government to intimidate citizens with such heavy military presence all in the name of preventing foreigners from taking part in the voter registration exercise.
Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he noted that residents have become traumatized and are unable to go about their normal duties.
He said there are Ghanaians who move in and out of the country to conduct their daily business activities in Togo so how then are they described as foreigners.
"This is sickening and it does speak well of us as a Democratic country. Parliament has not even been informed about this operation. So how then do you go about to deploy the military to engage in activities that are meant for the Immigration Service?"
K T Hammond's statement
Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Hon. K.T Hammond, while explaining the reason why some military personnel have been deployed to the Volta Region ahead of the voter registration exercise, made an analogy of how some foreign nationals from neighbouring Togo had participated in the election re-run of the 2008 general elections as Ghanaians in Ketu South Constituency.
He justified the military presence, saying it was to check the seeming influx of foreigners onto Ghana’s electoral roll.
“The military is there to make sure you vote if you are a Ghanaian and if you have the constitutional right to vote. That’s all there is. They are not electoral officers, but they are peacekeeping forces. They are keeping the peace. They [Togolese] walk into the [Volta Region] and come out normally but they are not Ghanaians. When they walk in there they can do whatever they do so I guess that is the reason for that,” he said.
NDC gives government 1 day ultimatum
The Minority NDC in Parliament has meanwhile given a day’s ultimatum to government to withdraw military personnel from Ketu South in the Volta Region.
Emmanuel Bedzrah, Chairman of the Volta Regional Caucus addressing a press conference in Aflao Monday, stressed that the troops must be recalled to their barracks immediately.
“There is no war between Ghana and Togo,” Mr Bedzrah said, adding there is no need for an increased security presence in the area.
Rawlings says military deployment is generating animosity
In a related development, former President Jerry John Rawlings thinks that the presence of the military and other security agencies in some parts of the Volta and Oti Regions is generating animosity especially amongst border dwellers whose livelihood solely depend on activities along the border.
According to him, the Covid-19 restrictions have already created enough difficulties for “most of our citizens” and that such difficulties should not be compounded.
A statement issued by Kobina Andoh Amoakwa of the Communications Directorate of the former President's office said: “Let us not make it worse with overbearing and intimidating behaviour towards our border dwellers whose livelihood solely depend on activities along the border.”
Mr Rawlings said, “Ahead of the voter registration exercise and the December elections, it is important that we demonstrate a sense of fairness and justice to all individuals and groups of people whilst maintaining the integrity and the sanctity of the process.”
Former President Rawlings’ statement followed complaints by many residents of border towns in the Volta and Oti Regions over the deployment of some security personnel, particularly military personnel in the area.
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Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]
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As for this move by the security agencies to secure our country borders for the ongoing new voter's registration...I salute you... If areas with heavy military personnels are comfortable why should areas with less complain if they don't have any hidden agenda.
WHO IS THIS OKUDZETO?HERE IS WHERE I,VE COME TO KNOW THAT WE LEARN ENGLISH FOR NOTHING.THE AUSTRIAN MILITARY ARE PATROLING THEIR BOARDERS EVERY NOW AND THEN,PROTECTING THEIR CITIZENS EVEN ALL ENTRY POINTS.GHANA MILITARY ARE ALWAYS IN IRONED UNIFORMS WALKING ON THE STREET BUSILY DOING NOTHING,WHY CAN,T YOU ADVICE PARLIAMENT TO CLOSE ALL THE BARRACKS?WASTEFUL AND B-O-G-U-S ARGUEMENT-OH GHANAIANS AND THEIR SO CALLED POLITICIANS.
There is no amount of noise that can remove the security forces from the borders. Dishonest, treacherous and villain politicians, no single integrity left. Ablakwa is a ***barred word***.
No right thinking person will vote for these c0rrupt, selfish, incompetent and greedy NDC people. We will not withdraw the soldiers. We will have a clean Ghanaian voters register.
They are to protect Ghanaians to register.
This is a compilation of the military deployments to all border Regions across the country as stated by the Hon. Defense Minister. As has been already stated, the deployment was for the COVID 19 fight. The military officers are not part of any electoral process. But they will not allow any person to cross the borders into the country. 1. Upper East Region- 8 Officers and 199 men A. Sonfusi 1 officer and 20 men B. Wiriyonga 1 officer and 20 men C. Kongo 1 officer and 20 men D. Garu 12 men F. Bawku 1 officer 45 men G. Nystrom H. Bolga 4 officers 45 men J. Paga 1 officer 17 men 2. North East Region- 3 Officers and 99 men A. Yawgu 1 officer 20 men B. Bunkprugu 15 men C. Chereponi 1 44 men 3. Northern Region - 5 officers 105 men A. Kpalkpa 1 officer 20 men B. Sheini 1 officer 20 men C. Nakpale 1 officer 20 men D. Saboba 1officer 23 men 4. Oti Region- 2 officers 70 men @ 6 locations 1. Tinjaasi 1 officers 15 men 2. Naabu 10 men 3. Minisu 1 officer 15 men 4. Ahumasu 10 men 5. Que 10 men 6. Dadiesi 10 5. Volta Region - 3 officers 95 men A. Aflao 1 15 men B. Akanu 10 men C. Shia 10 men D. Nyive 1 officer 15 men E. Honuta 10 men F. Leklebi Darfor 10 men G. Wli 1 officer 15 men H. Likple 10 men. 6. Upper West A. Wa 1 officer 15 men B. Tumu 1 officer 35 men C. Hamile 2 officer 15 soldiers 7. Savannah 21 men Damongo and Bole 8. Bono Region 44 9. Western Region 1 Officers 13 men It can been seen from the data above that, Volta Region has one of the lowest military deployments for the COVID 19 fight. And Aflao has only 15 military men with an officer. And if there is any ethnic group which should feel targeted, it must be the Kokombas rather and not Ewes. The NDC led by Government Official 1 must apologize to Ghanaians for the evil ethno-tribal agenda they have commenced.
Okudzeto Ablakwa who do you think you are? For once Government is doing the right thing for Mother Ghana and if you do not like it, you could exit to another country of your choice ok.
NOBODY IS GOING TO REMOVE NOBODY FROM TOGO GHANA BORDERS,, DO YOU THINK ABOUT GHANAIANS AS MP OR THE PEOPLE YOU WANT THEM TO COME AND REGISTER TO VOTE FOR YOU. aLL GHANA BORDERS ARE CLOSED BECAUSE OF COVIT 19, SO DEAL WITH IT NO BORDERS ARE GOING TO BE OPEN FOR YOU NDC TODAY OR TOMORROW, ARE YOU THINKING AS A GOOD MP THINKING ABOUT GHANAIANS WELFARE OR YOUR NDC TACTICS TO BRING PEOPLE FROM TOGO TO REGISTER TOO HELP YOUR NDC PARTY TO RIG THE 2020 ELECTIONS
Ablakwa, what do you take Ghanaians for? I am right now posting from Adaklu and it will interest you to note the people themselves have vowed long before the borders were closed that, in the event of the EC compiling a new register, we were going o defend even with blood to prevent our neighbors from Togo coming to register this time and taking part in any future voting as have been the situation here since 1992. You and your cohort tried to help s few to infiltrate our NIA registration. You saw a lot for yourself how we resisted you. This time, let even the Government make any mistake in opening the borders( which we shall resist anyway) and we are ready to all within our powers to block them again. You guys have taken us for fo01s far too long and we will sure use election 2020 to let you know your smoothness level. Long Live Mother Ghana, Long Live the Great Adaklu Kingdom, Long Live the Great Elephant!
As young man from Kpasa i wonder if our register is combination of both Ghana and Togo. During registration and voting time our brothers and sisters from Togo would be kept and fed in politicians houses for number of days. To be frank, Ndc benefited from these diabolical activities for far too long. I therefore think it would be hypocritical for any person to suggest the soldiers are there to intimidate