Muntaka M. Mubarak
A special team tasked by the government to investigate the circumstances that led to violence and deaths of some individuals during the 2020 and 2024 general elections have identified military and police personnel as responsible for cases resulting in the deaths of seven people.
Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who revealed this during a presentation, said four of the deaths are traceable to the use of a firearm by armed police patrol teams, while three of the cases resulting in the deaths of three people are attributed to military personnel.
Twenty-one (21) suspects have so far been identified in connection with the election-related violence that occurred during the 2020 and 2024 elections, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people with 40 others injured.
He said, “The investigation established that three of the cases resulting in four deaths are traceable to the use of a firearm by armed police patrol teams. Military personnel were also found to be responsible for three of the cases resulting in the deaths of three persons when they intervened to restore calm to chaotic crowds.”
The minister disclosed that a Special Investigation Task Force inaugurated on January 16, 2025 by the Inspector General of Police within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service identified twelve cases that took place during the 2020 and 2024 general elections, and subsequently recommended compensation for the families of the deceased as well as some individuals who were injured during the elections.
According to him, the Attorney General is currently prosecuting three persons who are standing trial at the High Court, Criminal Division, Accra, adding that the investigation established that three of the cases resulting in four deaths are traceable to the use of a firearm by armed police patrol teams.
Mr. Muntaka disclosed that the investigation further established that four of the cases, which resulted in five deaths, were recorded when party enthusiasts resorted to the use of a firearm against their opponents, while two other cases involved persons who were lynched during confrontations between supporters of the two major parties.
The minister, while addressing parts of the 2020 report, highlighted the following incidents across various constituencies: In the Techiman Constituency of Bono East, two people died, and nine others were injured. In Greater Accra, Odododiodio Constituency saw two deaths and fifteen injuries, while in Ablekuma, one person was killed, and four others were injured. In Bono, Banda Constituency, one person died, and two were injured. In Dormaa West, one person died with one other person sustaining injuries. Also, in the Savelugu Constituency in the Northern Region, one person lost his life, and three others sustained injuries.
He said in the Awutu Senya East Constituency of the Central Region, in the 2024 general election, one person died, and another was injured. In the Tolon Constituency of the Northern Region, one person was killed. Similarly, in Damongo, Savannah Region, one death was recorded. In the Nkoranza South Constituency of Bono East Region, one fatality occurred. In the Ashanti Region, two people died, and two others were injured. Additionally, in the Ahafo Ano South West Constituency, one person died, and three others were injured.
“It is worth noting that twenty-one suspects have been identified through witness interviews, scene visits, reconstruction of crime and crime scenes, and forensic and ballistic examinations of materials of evidence relevant to the cases. Eleven new dockets have been built on the cases,” he stated.
“Four of the identified suspects have been arrested and admitted to Police Enquiry Bail to facilitate further investigation and to trace their accomplices. Five other identified suspects have been remanded into prison custody. Warrants of Arrest have been procured to facilitate the arrest of some of the identified suspects,” the minister noted.
He further disclosed that investigation into one of the cases during the 2020 general election at Odododiodio was completed, as the Attorney General is currently prosecuting three persons standing trial at the High Court, Criminal Division in Accra.
He said the focus of its mandate is to avoid veering into areas that might confuse procedural breaches with the main mandate of the force who are expected to investigate, identify, and prosecute persons responsible for deaths during the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
He noted, “There were also instances of persons being rushed to the courts on frivolous and vexatious charges when the same incident had resulted in the death of a person or two. Great effort was expended to distil these charges and identify persons against whom evidence could be produced for the deaths recorded during these elections, with evidence to sustain criminal charges being preferred against them.”
Mr. Muntaka indicated that the detailed report, which has been submitted to President John Mahama, among others, is expected to address the recurrence of election-related violence and fatalities as well as help bring justice to the victims.
The task force also recommended that the state should take up the responsibility to compensate the families who lost their breadwinners, as well as those who suffered injuries.
They also recommended that the police should receive orientation and desist from using lethal force in crowd control situations using appropriate crowd control gear for security services, while urging the state to educate party executives, officials, and persons involved in election management on the provisions of the Anti-Vigilantism Act, 2019 (Act 999).
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah