CODEO calls for tight security as Election Day may draw huge crowds

Acting Chair for the Coalition of Domestic Observers (CODEO) has called for strict security at polling stations on December 7.

Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu said the declaration of Election Day as a holiday and the potential huge numbers at polling stations may lead to violence.

“December 7 has been declared a holiday. I’ll want to advise the security agencies to be more on the alert because what it means is that almost everybody is at home and polling stations may be crowded.

“Over enthusiastic party loyalists may engage in some activities and so this should trigger some strategic approach to the election security monitoring body on how they execute their work,” he said.

He was speaking at the launch of a new centre by CODEO to receive and process data on real-time events from the over 4000 Election Observers who would be deployed across the country, as part of efforts to deepen transparency in the 2020 polls.

The concern follows a declaration of December 7, as a public holiday by President Akufo-Addo.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the President said the decision is to facilitate the electoral process which will be conducted amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This decision was taken following the submission of a proposal to the President by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, a proposal which is supported by the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), for December 7, to be declared a public holiday to permit the safe exercise of the franchise, in the context of the pandemic,” the statement said.

However, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, has raised concern over the huge numbers that will turn up at various polling stations on election day, insisting that the security must beef up security.

He added that previously voters had to cast their ballots and return to their work posts which in turn “reduces the congestion at polling centers.”

However, this year’s election may see a lot of people accumulating at various polling stations with the day being a holiday.