In an interview with Citi FM’s Eyewitness News on July 14, Prof. Aning emphasized that any move to seek immediate retaliation would not only be tactically flawed but also premature.
He argued that politically motivated reprisals are unlikely to occur so soon after the last incident.
“I think Akwatia is too early for any reprisals,” he stated, suggesting that individuals or groups planning any form of retaliation would be more strategic and delay their actions until attention and security presence diminish.
Prof. Aning stressed the importance of taking a long-term view on election security, noting that threats may surface when institutional focus on violence prevention weakens.
He cautioned that those with ill intent may avoid heavily policed elections, waiting instead for more opportune moments when the national focus has shifted elsewhere.
He also advised against deploying security forces solely in high-profile areas like Akwatia.
Instead, he advocated for a more distributed and sustained security strategy that anticipates potential hotspots over time.
According to him, “They will bide their time. They will wait for an opportunity where these acts of violence have been forgotten.”
He urged election stakeholders and security agencies to adopt a proactive approach, maintaining a vigilant and visible presence beyond election day.
This, he believes, will help to deter future acts of politically motivated violence and reassure the public of their safety during the electoral process.