Election Violence: 21 suspects identified in 2020/2024 killings

The Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has disclosed that investigations into the deadly election-related violence recorded during the 2020 and 2024 general elections have reached an advanced stage, with 21 suspects identified so far.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, the Minister revealed that a special investigative task force set up by the government through the Ghana Police Service has completed major aspects of its work and handed parts of its findings to the Attorney-General’s Department for prosecution.

According to him, the two election cycles together recorded 15 deaths and 40 injuries across 12 constituencies in several regions. Out of the identified suspects, four are currently on police inquiry bail, five are on remand, while the remaining suspects are being pursued under active warrants.

The 2020 elections, he noted, were the bloodiest in recent history, with violence erupting in Techiman South, Odododiodio, Ablekuma Central, Banda, Dormaa West, and Savelugu. In Techiman South and Odododiodio alone, eight people died and more than twenty others sustained gunshot wounds. Ablekuma Central, Banda, and Dormaa West each recorded one death, while Savelugu reported one death and three injuries.

The 2024 general elections, though relatively calmer, also saw incidents of violence in Awutu Senya East, Tolon, Damongo, Nkoranza South, Offinso North, and Ahafo Ano South West. Each of these constituencies recorded at least one death, with Offinso North reporting two deaths and two injuries, and Ahafo Ano South West one death and three injuries.

Hon. Muntaka disclosed that a number of the incidents under investigation involved the use of firearms by both civilians and security personnel, adding that findings so far indicate that clashes often broke out between rival political supporters, leading to indiscriminate firing and, in some cases, the use of live ammunition by deployed security officers.

He assured Ghanaians that the government remains committed to ensuring justice for all victims and their families, emphasizing that accountability is a national priority.

“No one involved in the violence will be shielded from prosecution,” he stressed.

The Minister further revealed that the Attorney-General’s Department is currently handling three separate cases linked to the 2020 Odododiodio violence, which are before the High Court in Accra.

He added that the Ministry of the Interior, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies, is reviewing election security strategies to prevent similar incidents in future polls. The reforms, he explained, will focus on improved crowd control measures, enhanced inter-agency coordination, and better training for officers assigned to election duties.

Hon. Muntaka concluded by assuring the public that the government will continue to provide updates as more arrests are made and prosecutions advance, adding that compensation for victims and affected families will be considered after judicial processes are completed.

By: Bawa Musah

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