National security agents were ordinarily clothed, unarmed - Jean Mensa

The Chair of the Ghana Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa has stated categorically that there were no armed masked men at the just ended Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election contrary to reports.

Appearing before the Justice Emile Short Commission on Friday, the EC chair insisted that reports that emerged from various media houses did not necessarily reflect the true issues on the ground as they happened.

According to her, per reports received by EC personnel present at the polling stations on the said day, point to the fact that there were no abnormalities, masked or armed men at any of the 137 polling stations.

“From the reports we have received from our field officers who were monitoring, there were no armed security personnel at any of the 137 polling stations”, she stated.

Adding, “There were no masked men who were weiding arms in any of the 137 polling stations, all our reports that have come in and monitors who have monitored including members of the commission did not identify any masked men at any of the 137 polling stations”.

Asked if she had verified and confirmed her claims, she responded in the affirmative.

“Yes!”, she said.



She also maintained that supposed National security personnel deployed to the grounds were ordinarily clothed and were completely unarmed unlike has been portrayed by the media.

“We were not told why they were present but I must say here that they were ordinarily clothed and were not armed”.

Mrs. Mensa further was definite about observing a peaceful process, void of any chaos during her visit to about 50 polling stations on the day.

"In all the polling stations I visited, I didn't see any armed men and nobody complained or we have not received any report to that" she insisted.

Touching on the shooting incident that occurred at the La Bawaleshie area, the EC chair said, the shooting occurred about 140meters away from the polling station and people run to seek cover at the center.

"The shooting did not occur at the polling station" she said.