The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has clarified that the military presence at the Accra International Conference Center during parliamentary proceedings on Tuesday, October 22, was at the request of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
This clarification follows media reports suggesting that military personnel were deployed to interfere with parliamentary business during the Fifth Meeting of the Fourth Session.
In a statement issued the same day, GAF strongly denied the allegations, labelling the reports as false. The statement explained that the deployment was standard procedure for the first sitting day of the week whenever Parliament convenes outside its traditional chambers.
The Ghana Armed Forces urged the public to disregard these claims, emphasizing that such misinformation tarnishes the reputation of the military.
“On Monday 21 October 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. It is essential to clarify that GAF personnel were not present at the Grand Arena to interfere with Parliamentary proceedings. Their role was exclusively to conduct these routine sweeps to ensure the safety and security of the facility by checking for any explosive devices or harmful substances.”
It urged media outlets to refrain from disseminating false information and to report responsibly on matters of public interest.
Read the full statement below
