Director of Elections Planning and Coordination of Movement for Change, Nana Ohene Ntow, has expressed concern over the persistent interference of executive branch officials in the operations of security personnel during elections.

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

In an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, November 30, he highlighted a recurring challenge where Regional Ministers, District Chief Executives (DCEs), and even Ministers assert undue authority over security personnel on Election Day, undermining the independence of the Electoral Commission’s (EC) Election Security Task Force.

He noted that this dynamic places security officers in difficult positions, as they may feel pressured to comply with directives from powerful figures, even if such actions compromise their neutrality or go against established protocols.

“The specific concern that we have raised over and over again is that in spite of the fact that you have the inspector general of police's Election Security Task Force. The reality has been that on Election Day, executive branch officials, officials from the executive branch of government, regional ministers, DCEs, and even ministers physically tend to obstruct the operation and the authority of the Election Security Task Force personnel on the ground.

“I mean, you would find a minister, regional minister, telling a security official that you work under me. We raised this issue. But we also know that in reality, when a police officer, security personnel, meets such a powerful person in authority, it is really difficult,” he said.

While acknowledging assurances given by authorities, Mr. Ntow emphasised the need for concrete measures to prevent such interference.

He pointed out that existing promises lack enforceable mechanisms to ensure that executive branch officials, including Regional Ministers and DCEs, are restricted from influencing security operations at polling stations and collation centers.

"Even when directives are issued that armed or unarmed security personnel should not interfere, the problem remains with the officials themselves, not just their security teams. We need clear, practical arrangements to enforce these assurances," he stated.

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

Mr. Ntow called on the Electoral Commission, the Election Security Task Force, and the National Security Council to adopt stricter protocols to prevent executive overreach.

He also urged civil society and political parties to monitor and report any instances of interference to preserve the credibility of the electoral process.