15 Dead, 40 Injured — Interior Minister Orders Full Enforcement of Election Violence Report
Photo credit- BBC
Accra, Ghana — Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak (MP), has pledged the full implementation of recommendations contained in the government’s special investigative report on election-related violence, vowing a decisive response built on justice, victim restitution, and sweeping security sector reform.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, the Minister described the findings as “a national wake-up call” and reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring accountability and non-recurrence. “Under the leadership of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, this government is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring peaceful, transparent elections across Ghana,” the Minister stated.
The investigative report covered 12 major incidents of violence across the 2020 and 2024 general elections, resulting in 15 deaths and 40 injuries.
Hon. Mohammed-Mubarak disclosed that the investigation identified 21 suspects connected to the incidents, leading to new legal actions. “Eleven new dockets have been built on the cases. Four identified suspects have been arrested and admitted to police inquiry bail, while five others have been remanded in prison custody,” he said.
Cases pending further evidence, particularly those involving ballistic analysis, have been referred to the Attorney-General’s Department and the Cold Case Unit of the CID for continuing investigation.
“We will not abandon justice. Where we couldn’t reach finality, those cases are being reviewed for future prosecution,” the Minister assured.
He also confirmed that the government has directed the full implementation of the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election report, calling it a critical step toward institutional reform.
Reaffirming the State’s duty to the victims of electoral violence, the Minister announced that compensation procedures have been formalized to ensure affected families receive appropriate redress.
“The state will take full responsibility to compensate the families who lost their breadwinners and those injured,” Hon. Mohammed-Mubarak declared.
He added that dockets for compensation have been forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Office for approval and disbursement, signaling a structured approach to restitution.
The Interior Minister detailed a wide-ranging plan to overhaul election security management, emphasizing that the use of lethal force by security agencies during elections must end immediately.
“Security personnel should cease the use of live ammunition for crowd control, especially when crowds are fleeing. It is not acceptable,” he said firmly.
The new directive calls for proper coordination between the Ghana Police Service and sister agencies, ending the use of military personnel for crowd control during elections.
“Election security must be led and managed by the police. The military’s role in civilian crowd control is to cease,” he emphasized.
The Minister also addressed public concerns about masked or unidentifiable security officers, stating that accountability requires visible identification of all personnel on election duty.
“Security officers monitoring elections must not conceal their identities. Transparency and accountability are fundamental,” he said.
Hon. Mohammed-Mubarak concluded by reaffirming the administration’s commitment to institutional reform and public confidence in Ghana’s democracy. “This government will ensure that the rule of law prevails, that victims receive justice, and that no Ghanaian loses their life in the exercise of democratic rights,” he said.
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