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The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has refuted media reports suggesting 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 Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
In a statement issued by the Director-General of Public Relations on Tuesday, GAF emphatically described the reports as “false” and urged the public to treat them with the utmost contempt.
“Such misinformation among other things tarnishes the reputation of GAF,” part of the statement read.
This comes after some military personnel were sighted at the AICC premises on Tuesday morning, where Parliament was holding its Fifth Meeting.
An earlier statement from Parliament indicated that the security personnel were present at the request of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, following remarks he made on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, October 17, 2024, where the Minority Leader had urged the Speaker to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
However, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution on the Speaker’s declaration, allowing the affected MPs to retain their seats and participate in parliamentary activities until a final ruling on the matter is made.
This development sparked a leadership crisis in Parliament, disrupting the balance of power.
In light of this controversy, the Speaker formally requested GAF to perform specialised security checks, including canine and bomb sweeps, before sittings began each Tuesday.
“On Monday, October 21, 2024, the Speaker of Parliament, Right Honourable Alban 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,” GAF stated.
GAF clarified that the military personnel who were deployed at the Grand Arena were not there to interfere with parliamentary proceedings but solely to conduct security sweeps to ensure the safety of the venue.
“Their role was exclusively to perform these routine checks, ensuring the safety and security of the facility by searching for any explosive devices or harmful substances,” the statement continued.
GAF reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the well-being of all citizens and assured the public that it would continue to carry out assignments aimed at ensuring security and safety.
“We also urge media outlets to refrain from disseminating false information and to report responsibly on matters of public interest,” GAF added.
