The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has issued a statement rejecting media reports that military personnel were deployed to the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) to interfere with parliamentary proceedings during the Fifth Meeting of the Fourth Session on October 22, 2024.
In a release from the Director-General of Public Relations, Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie stated that GAF characterized the reports as “false” and urged the public to dismiss them.
“Such misinformation tarnishes the reputation of GAF,” the statement emphasized.
The clarification follows the sighting of military personnel at the AICC on Tuesday morning.
According to Parliament, their presence was at the request of the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, who sought enhanced security measures following discussions on October 17 regarding the declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
While the Supreme Court has issued a stay of execution on the Speaker’s declaration, allowing the affected MPs to retain their seats, the situation has heightened tensions within Parliament.
In light of ongoing security concerns, the Speaker formally requested GAF to conduct routine security checks, including canine and bomb sweeps, before parliamentary sessions each Tuesday.
GAF confirmed that these procedures are standard practice when Parliament convenes outside the traditional Parliament House.
The GAF clarified that the military personnel present at the Grand Arena were solely there to perform these security sweeps, ensuring the venue’s safety.
“Their role was exclusively to conduct routine checks for explosive devices or harmful substances,” the statement noted.
GAF reiterated its commitment to public safety and urged media outlets to report responsibly on matters of public interest.
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