Soldiers deployment to border towns generating animosity – Rawlings urges caution

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has raised concerns over the presence of soldiers along the eastern border of Ghana.

Ahead of the voter registration exercise which begins on May 30, the military has been stationed along the country’s shared border with Togo.

The government has offered no official reasons, but the usual presence of the soldiers has raised eyebrows.

Ghana has shut its border barring human travel following the coronavirus pandemic.

Former President Rawlings believes “the presence of the military and other security agencies in some parts of the Volta and Oti Regions is generating animosity especially amongst innocent citizens whose basic way of life is being disrupted.”

A statement by Kobina Andoh Amoakwa of the Communications Directorate of the former President’s Office said the deployment along the borders at peacetime, especially at this particular point in time has created “so much suspicion and will call for a lot of intelligent flexibility and diligence.”

He indicated that the COVID-19 restrictions had created enough difficulties for “most of our citizens”.

“Let us not make it worse with overbearing and intimidating behaviour towards our border dwellers whose livelihood solely depend on activities along the border.

“Ahead of the voter registration exercise and the December elections, it is important that we demonstrate a sense of fairness and justice to all individuals and groups of people whilst maintaining the integrity and the sanctity of the process,” the statement added.