Former President Jerry John Rawlings has appealed to the government to not make life worse for dwellers of border towns through its deployment of members of the Ghana Armed Forces in such towns even as the country battles to contain the novel coronavirus disease, charging the government to exhibit a sense of fairness and justice to all individuals and groups of people ahead of the voter registration exercise tomorrow.
The Former President’s remarks are contained in a statement following the deployment of the military in various border towns across Volta, Oti, Upper West and Upper East Regions.
The presence of the military has sparked controversy, dividing opinion mainly on political lines. Thus while the opposition is against it, the governing party has been loud in support of the move.
Full statement:
The presence of the military and other security agencies in some parts of the Volta and Oti Regions is generating animosity especially amongst innocent citizens whose basic way of life is being disrupted.
The deployment along the borders at peacetime especially at this particular point in time has created so much suspicion and will call for a lot of intelligent flexibility and diligence.
The Covid-19 restrictions have created enough difficulties for most of our citizens. Let us not make it worse with overbearing and intimidating behaviour towards our border dwellers whose livelihood solely depend on activities along the border.
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.
