The Role of Security Personnel and their Involvement in the General Election of Ghana

A Case Study of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF)

Abstract

Ghana has achieved notable progress in its electoral processes, conducting nine successive peaceful elections and undergoing four changes of power. The threat of election-related violence persists, as polarisation, intolerance, and distrust provide risks of conflict and instability. This study investigated the role of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in Ghana’s general elections, with a specific focus on public perceptions of the GAF’s presence, their contributions during the electoral process, and the impact of these contributions on national peace and stability. The research employed a quantitative methodology. The study's target population comprised GAF personnel. A simple random sampling method was utilised to select 347 people for the study, and t-tests together with structural equation modelling were applied to examine the acquired data. SPSS version 26 and Stata 17 were utilised as the analytical tools. The theoretical framework guiding the study was the Copenhagen School of security theory which looked at the political security (the stability of political systems and governance structures) in relation to election and how military involvement in election duties leads to perception and how it also affects the peace and stability of a country. The study revealed that Ghanaians regard the military's involvement in elections as detrimental to the democratic process, with military presence at voting locations intimidating voters. The study revealed that the GAF demonstrates a greater commitment to preserving national stability and sovereignty, deterring electoral violence, and effectively collaborating with the Electoral Commission at various polling stations during the election. The study revealed a statistically significant association between military contributions before, during, and after elections and Ghanaians’ perceptions of these contributions. It also found that military involvement is positively linked to the peace and stability of Ghana. Furthermore, Ghanaians’ perceptions were significantly associated with national peace and stability, and served as a mediating factor in the relationship between military contributions and peace and stability across the electoral period.