Military presence in Parliament was at Speaker's request - GAF

Oct 22, 2024 - 20:53

Accra, Ghana - October 22, 2024 - The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has swiftly responded to allegations of interference in parliamentary business, clarifying that their presence at the Accra International Conference Center on Tuesday, October 22, was at the request of Speaker Alban Bagbin.

This explanation comes on the heels of media reports suggesting military personnel were deployed to disrupt the Fifth Meeting of the Fourth Session.

According to GAF, the deployment was standard procedure for the first sitting day of the week when Parliament convenes outside its traditional chambers. On Monday, October 21, Speaker Bagbin formally requested security assistance from GAF for routine canine and bomb sweeps of the chamber. This standard procedure ensures the safety and security of the facility by checking for explosive devices or harmful substances.

GAF emphasized that their personnel were not present to interfere with parliamentary proceedings but rather to conduct routine sweeps.

The military urged the public to disregard claims of interference, stressing that misinformation tarnishes their reputation.

Find the full GAF statement below.