The military security detail stationed at the private Labone residence of Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jean Mensa, has been withdrawn, leaving the compound quiet and deserted.

Soldiers who had previously provided 24-hour protection were recalled without any official explanation being made public.

A vendor in the area said the last time she saw the military personnel was on 25 June 2025.

Since then, the entrance to the residence has appeared bare, with no sign of the usual activity.

Jean Mensa, along with several other government officials, received military protection under the Akufo-Addo administration, a move that sparked widespread controversy, with many insisting that the military should remain in the barracks and not be deployed to private homes.

Critics argued that deploying soldiers to guard civilian appointees blurred the line between state security and personal privilege, raising concerns about whether such arrangements were politically motivated.

This criticism was underscored by the fact that Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the longest-serving EC Chairman, and his successor, Charlotte Osei, were either guarded by police or had no personal security detail at all.

Appointed in 2018, Jean Mensa has supervised two general elections and several by-elections, often under intense public and political scrutiny.

Her tenure has been marked by heated debates and strong partisan reactions to many of her decisions.

So far, neither the EC Chair nor the military authorities have commented on the reasons for the withdrawal.