There were credible reports that members of the security forces committed some abuses. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over the security forces. The National Intelligence Bureau handles cases considered critical to state security and answers directly to the Ministry of National Security. The Ghana Police Service, under the Ministry of the Interior, is responsible for maintaining law and order however, the military, which reports to the Ministry of Defense, continued to participate in law enforcement activities in a support role, such as by protecting critical infrastructure and by enforcing measures to combat COVID-19. Domestic and international observers assessed the elections to be transparent, inclusive, and credible. Presidential and parliamentary elections conducted in December 2020 were generally peaceful, although there were isolated incidents of violence during the voting and vote count, resulting in as many as eight deaths, some by security forces. Ghana is a constitutional democracy with a strong presidency and a unicameral 275-seat parliament.
Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.