Muntaka presents election related violence report –suspects pencilled for prosecution

The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, has expressed deep concern over the persistent use of lethal weapons by security personnel during Ghana’s elections, describing it as a grave threat to democracy and human security.

Addressing the media on the findings of a Special Investigative Task Force established to review electoral violence during the 2020 and 2024 general elections, the Minister said the government would pursue all cases of election-related violence to their logical conclusion to ensure justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators.

“As Minister for the Interior, I want to assure the public that the government, under the leadership of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all those responsible for the violence are held accountable,” he declared.

Alhaji Muntaka condemned the increasing militarization of Ghana’s elections, saying the heavy deployment of armed officers at polling and collation centres undermines public confidence and endangers lives.

“The investigations revealed worrying patterns of security excesses, including indiscriminate firing and the use of live ammunition as a means of crowd control. Such actions are unacceptable in a democratic state,” he stressed.

According to the Minister, the task force identified 12 major incidents nationwide — six each from the 2020 and 2024 elections — which resulted in 15 deaths and over 40 injuries.

These incidents were recorded in Greater Accra, Bono, Bono East, Northern, Central, Savannah, and Ashanti regions.

The report cited multiple cases where soldiers and police officers used live bullets to disperse crowds, leading to fatalities. “Three of the deaths were linked to military interventions, while another four were caused by police officers who fired directly at fleeing civilians,” he revealed.

Systemic Failures and Breaches of Conduct

The Minister lamented that in several instances, security personnel acted without proper command supervision.

“The use of firearms was not done under the command of a senior officer who could have ensured that the appropriate rules of engagement were observed. This lack of discipline and accountability must never be repeated,” he said.

He noted that some officers violated operational protocols, failed to retrieve spent shells from shooting scenes, and, in some cases, fabricated charges against civilians instead of pursuing those responsible for killings.

The investigative task force, through witness interviews, crime scene reconstructions, and forensic analyses, identified 21 suspects and built 11 new case dockets.

The report, now before the Attorney-General, contains recommendations for prosecutions and compensation for victims and bereaved families.

 

Human Security and Democratic Accountability

Alhaji Muntaka emphasised that the excessive use of force during elections represents a serious violation of citizens’ rights to life and participation. He noted that protecting human life must always take precedence over political contestations.

“The injuries and deaths recorded during these elections could have been avoided if security forces had adhered to professional standards. No election is worth the life of any Ghanaian.”

The Minister added that the government would fully implement the recommendations of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Inquiry and other task force reports to reform electoral security operations and prevent future militarization of polls.

He explained that election-related security interventions should be based on intelligence and crowd management strategies, not intimidation or force.

“Elections are a civic exercise, not a battlefield. Our democracy cannot thrive where guns, not ballots, determine the will of the people,” he stated firmly.

Commitment to Justice

Alhaji Muntaka assured victims and bereaved families that investigations would continue until justice is served.

He said the government would collaborate with the Ghana Police Service, the Armed Forces, and the Electoral Commission to adopt human security-centered policing models during elections.

He further revealed that the Ministry of the Interior would introduce strict electoral security guidelines to prohibit the use of live ammunition in crowd control and promote non-lethal options such as rubber bullets and tear gas in exceptional cases.

“The state has a moral and constitutional duty to protect life. We cannot continue to lose citizens simply because of election-related violence. The pain, trauma, and loss suffered by families must not be repeated in our national history,” he emphasised.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s determination to rebuild public confidence in the security services and to ensure that future elections are conducted in an atmosphere of safety, trust and transparency.

 

 

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