Leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has justified the joint police and military protection given to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.
According to Gabby Otchere-Darko, assigning military and police personnel to guard Mrs. Jean Mensa at home, workplace and wherever she goes is the best form of protection the state could offer her following incessant vilifications and threats on her life by political actors who are displeased with her handling of election-related matters especially her declaration of president Akufo-Addo as winner of the December 7 polls.
He said the security agencies on their own accord decided to assign her such tight security in a bid to safeguard her life against attacks after threats on her life heightened.
For him, although the security maybe too tight and maybe uncomforting even to Mrs. Jean Mensa herself, it is necessary to protect her against unscrupulous persons.
Mr. Otchere-Darko is, therefore, surprised that some people are kicking against the protection given to the EC’s Chairperson when it is meant to ensure her safety in the face of imminent danger.
“This woman, the returning officer for the presidential election, has had her life threatened multiple times from all manner of corners, her character insulted, her integrity denigrated and the threats to her life heightened to the highest dangerous point that any public servant should endure, for the security services to consider it appropriate to offer her the highest form of protection they could. Her security at home, office and around her 24-7, is made up of a combination of soldiers and police,” he stated in a post on social media.
His comments come on the back of criticism against the level security assigned the Chairperson of the election management body. Mrs. Jean Mensa is seen lately with heavy security protection comprising of military and police personnel.
But a section of the public has criticized government for assigning military personnel as part of her security guard with some calling for a withdrawal of military personnel assigned as personal guards of public office holders including the EC’s Chairperson.
Reacting to the criticism, Mr. Otchere-Darko questioned the basis for kicking against the protection given to the EC’s Chairperson. In his opinion, it is unreasonable for anyone to kick against the protection of lives by the state in however way it chooses to.
