A four-member delegation from the United Nations Headquarters, New York visited the Ministry of Defence to discuss some contingency measures with the Ghana Armed Forces towards the upcoming 2020 general elections in Ghana.

The visit formed part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project to conduct an Institutional Assessment and to develop a Strategic Plan for the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC).

The Chief Electoral Officer, of the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs at the United Nations Office at the African Union (UNOAU), Addis Ababa, Mr Akinyemi Adegbola led the team to the Ministry. He said there was the need for his team to meet with some of the stakeholders and civil society organisations, responsible for the political and technical aspect of the electoral process to have a better understanding of the political environment in Ghana.

He said the UN was responding to a request by the EC to provide assistance to Ghana in the upcoming elections. Mr Adegbola said his team met with the Electoral Commission on the forthcoming elections and were, embarking on a need assessment mission to discuss some issues of security and contingency measures for the electoral process with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and other security agencies.

The Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr Evans A Dzikum who received the delegation, briefed them on the role of GAF before, during and after elections. He said the military provides a stand-by force during elections and cooperates with the Ghana Police Service to maintain law and order during the electoral process. Present at the meeting were the Principal General Staff Officer at the Ministry Brig Gen Fredrick Buliga, senior military officers and some members staff.