Ahead of the upcoming general election, scheduled to take place on 7th December, tensions are rising both internally and externally, notably causing a rift between the Government of Ghana and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire.
The Government of Ghana has warned Côte d’Ivoire about illegal activities that may affect the general elections set for December 7, 2024.
In a letter seen online from District Chief Executive of the Suaman Constituency, Hon. Philip Kwabena Boahen, the government raised concerns that some Ivorian nationals may have crossed into Ghana to register to vote from towns along the Ghana-Cote D’Ivoire border which include Kofibadukrom, Atokokrom, Chache, Luag, Obengkrom, and Chienekorokor-Kwasuo.
The letter pointed out that allowing non-Ghanaians to take part in the voting process could harm the credibility and transparency of the elections. The government plans to take several steps to tackle this issue:
- Boost Border Security: Increase patrols along the Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire border to stop unauthorized crossings.
- Work Together: Coordinate with Ivorian border authorities to monitor and prevent illegal activities that could affect Ghana’s elections.
- Inform the Public: Educate communities in Côte d’Ivoire to discourage non-citizens from participating in Ghana’s elections
Hon. Boahen reiterated Ghana’s commitment to fair and credible elections and urged Côte d’Ivoire to respect Ghana’s sovereignty to maintain regional harmony.
The letter ends with a request for Ivorian authorities to cooperate in addressing these concerns.
As the election period approaches, the government aims to protect the integrity of the democratic process while maintaining good relations with Côte d’Ivoire.
