The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has stated that it has noted with concern the circulation of media reports suggesting that military personnel were deployed to the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) to interfere with proceedings of Parliament during its Fifth Meeting of the Fourth Session.
This is contained in a press release signed by the Director General of Public Relation, Col E. Aggrey-Quashie, dated October 22.
“GAF wishes to emphatically state that these reports are false and should be treated with the utmost contempt. Such misinformation among other things tarnishes the reputation of GAF,” Col Aggrey-Quashie wrote.
According to GAF, on Monday 21 October 2024, the Speaker of Parliament, Right Honourable Albert Kingsford Sumana
Bagbin, through the Clerk of Parliament formally requested security assistance from GAF for routine Canine and Bomb Sweeps of the Chamber.
“This standard procedure is conducted on the first sitting day of the week, typically Tuesdays, whenever Members of Parliament convene outside the traditional Parliament House. It is essential to clarify that GAF personnel were not present at the Grand Arena to interfere with Parliamentary proceedings. Their role was exclusively to conduct these routine sweeps to ensure the safety and security of the facility by checking for any explosive devices or harmful substances,” the release further noted.
GAF assured that it “remains committed to the welfare and well-being of all citizens and will always undertake
assignments which aim at ensuring the security and safety of all and sundry. We also urge media outlets to refrain from disseminating false information and to report responsibly on matters of public interest.”
In the early hours of Tuesday October 22, some military personnel were seen entering the Grand Arena, where sittings of Parliament are currently held.
This caused apprehension among members of the public and some political watchers. The release by GAF thus sets the record straight.