Security agencies have identified 21 people connected to electoral violence incidents
documented during Ghana’s 2020 and 2024 general elections, according to Interior Minister Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak. In several areas, the violent clashes resulted in 15 fatalities and 40 injuries.
Alhaji Muntaka updated the nation on the government’s ongoing efforts to combat political violence, noting that four of the suspects had been granted bail, five were still on remand, and arrest warrants had been issued for the remaining suspects who were still at large. This comes after President John Dramani
Mahama ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to carry out a thorough investigation into all election-related deaths and disturbances from both election years in January. A special task force within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was in charge of the investigation.
According to CID findings, the violence included clashes between supporters of opposing political parties and incidents where security forces used live ammunition to scatter crowds.
According to the report, military operations were implicated in three deaths and police actions in four.
Five more people were killed in clashes between armed political supporters. Suspects were identified as a result of investigations using forensic analysis, eyewitness reports, and evidence collected from crime scenes. The attorney general is currently prosecuting three people, and more arrests and trials are expected.
The report also pointed to procedural violations and officer negligence as reasons for the security services’ shortcomings. It denounced the use of live ammunition on civilians, calling it preventable and unprofessional. Among the major recommendations were:
* Compensation for victims and their families, to be coordinated by the Attorney General’s office.
* Routine police retraining to discourage excessive use of force.
* Provision of modern, non-lethal crowd control equipment to law enforcement agencies.
* Enhanced coordination between the police and military for election security.
* Sensitization of political parties on the Anti-Vigilante Act and peaceful conduct during elections.
President Mahama has ordered that these recommendations be implemented immediately, including the payment of compensation and the enforcement of disciplinary actions as needed.
Alhaji. Muntaka reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring accountability, preventing electoral violence, and protecting the integrity of future elections.
Story by: Benedict Wiafe
