Minister for the Interior Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka has disclosed alarming figures on election-related violence in Ghana, revealing that 15 lives have been lost and 40 persons injured across the 2020 and 2024 election cycles.
Presenting a summary of cases documented nationwide, the minister described the pattern of electoral violence as “deeply concerning” and called for urgent collective action to safeguard Ghana’s democratic gains.
The 2020 general elections saw a total of 8 deaths and 34 injuries spread across six major constituencies. The worst-hit areas included:
- Techiman South (Bono East): 2 deaths, 9 injuries
- Odododiodio (Greater Accra): 2 deaths, 15 injuries
- Ablekuma Central (Greater Accra): 1 death, 4 injuries
- Banda (Bono): 1 death, 2 injuries
- Dormaa West (Bono): 1 death, 1 injury
- Savelugu (Northern): 1 death, 3 injuries
Alhaji Muntaka expressed particular concern over the high casualty rate in urban constituencies, noting that the loss of lives and the injuries sustained are a dark stain on Ghana’s electoral process.
Despite increased security deployments and public appeals for calm, the 2024 election period also recorded 7 deaths and 6 injuries in incidents spanning six constituencies:
- Awutu Senya (Central): 1 death, 1 injury
- Tolon (Northern): 1 death
- Damango (Savannah): 1 death
- Nkoranza South (Bono East): 1 death
- Offinso North (Ashanti): 2 deaths, 2 injuries
- Ahafo Ano South-West (Ashanti): 1 death, 3 injuries
- “The circumstances of each case vary, but nearly all involve the use of firearms during confrontations between supporters of the two major political parties and instances where security personnel resorted to the use of live ammunition or warning shots as a means of crowd control,” Alhaji Muntaka lamented on Tuesday, November 4.
National Trends and Security Response
The cumulative data from both election cycles—15 deaths and 40 injuries—highlight persistent challenges in election security, especially in high-stakes constituencies.
The Interior Ministry, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, has deployed rapid response units, launched investigations, and intensified community engagement in affected areas.
Alhaji Muntaka assured the public that perpetrators of election violence would be prosecuted and announced the formation of a multi-stakeholder task force to recommend reforms.
“No election is worth a single Ghanaian life,” he declared. “We call on political parties, civil society, and the media to join hands in promoting peace before, during, and after elections.”
Alhaji Muntaka also called for increased voter education and early warning systems to prevent the escalation of disputes at polling stations. He urged citizens to report suspicious activities and refrain from incitement. Election violence in Ghana, though relatively rare compared to some peers in the region, has spiked in recent cycles, drawing concern from international observers.
According to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Ghana recorded only 3 election-related deaths in 2016—a figure that has quintupled in recent years.
As the nation prepares for future polls, the Interior Ministry has pledged to work with the Electoral Commission, security agencies, and all stakeholders to implement new safeguards and restore public confidence in Ghana’s democratic process.
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