President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his need for prompt justice regarding the violence that was documented during the general elections in 2024.
He has instructed the Inspector General of Police to expeditiously complete investigations and guarantee that those responsible are held accountable.
President Mahama reiterated the need for prompt action to hold offenders accountable and rebuild public confidence in Ghana’s democratic process during his remarks at the concluding ceremony of the National Peace Council’s Post-2024 Elections Evaluation Dialogue in Koforidua.
“The IGP, expedite investigations into these acts of electoral violence and bring the perpetrators to justice. The Attorney General is also working on a report to be presented to Cabinet for adequate compensation to be paid to victims and relatives of those affected by the violence,” the President stated.
Bringing together political actors, civil society organizations, and peace-building partners, the conversation session aimed to examine the conduct of the 2024 elections and strengthen procedures to prevent future electoral disturbances.
President Mahama also emphasized the benefits of the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act, 2019 (Act 999), which was enacted to stop the increase in violence committed by people with political affiliations. He claimed that a major factor in the decline of politically motivated attacks during elections has been the dissolution of vigilante groups.
“The disbandment of party vigilante groups through the passage of the Vigilantism and Related Offenses Act, 2019 (Act 999) was a step in the right direction that has helped to reduce politically motivated violence to some extent,” he added.
President Mahama has called for prompt action in response to electoral violence on previous occasions. Following violent events at multiple voting places and collation centers during the 2024 elections, some of which left people injured or killed, he made his most recent statement amid a resurgent public demand for justice and transparency.
President Mahama gave the country his word that, as part of continuing reforms in the electoral and security sectors, his administration will not tolerate impunity and will seek to compensate victims.
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