The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed, has announced that 21 suspects have been identified in connection with election violence in Ghana during the 2020 and 2024 general elections, which led to the deaths of 15 people and left 40 others injured.
Providing an update on the government’s efforts to tackle political violence and electoral security breaches, the Minister explained that four suspects are currently on bail, five are on remand, while arrest warrants have been issued for the remaining individuals who are still at large.
The development follows a directive issued in January by President John Dramani Mahama to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to investigate all fatalities and violence recorded during the 2020 and 2024 elections.
The investigation was led by a special task force from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
According to the CID report, the incidents included clashes between supporters of major political parties and instances where security personnel used live ammunition to disperse crowds.
The findings show that three incidents involving police patrol teams led to four deaths, military personnel were linked to three deaths, and four firearm-related incidents involving party supporters resulted in five fatalities.
The suspects were identified through eyewitness testimony, crime-scene investigations, and forensic evidence.
The Attorney General is currently prosecuting three individuals, while further arrests and prosecutions are expected.
The report also highlighted procedural breaches and negligence by some police officers, condemning the use of live ammunition on civilians as avoidable and unprofessional.
It recommended enhanced security protocols, disciplinary action, and urged that military personnel should not be deployed for crowd control during elections.
President John Dramani Mahama has instructed that all recommendations be implemented immediately, including compensation for victims and their families.
Here are the key recommendations of the task force:
- Compensation for families of deceased and injured persons, to be overseen by the Attorney General’s office.
- Regular police orientation programmes to discourage the use of lethal force in crowd control.
- Provision of non-lethal crowd control equipment to security services.
- Capacity building for election security management, focusing on improved coordination between the police and military.
- Education of political parties on the Anti-Vigilante Act and responsible conduct during elections.
The report has been formally submitted to the Attorney General’s office and the CID for follow-up action.
The Interior Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening election security, preventing future electoral violence, and ensuring that all suspects face the full law of Ghana.
