Ghana's Election Violence: Mahama Seeks Justice and Compensation for Families
Accra, Ghana - 10 Jan, 2025 - President John Dramani Mahama has sounded the alarm over the lack of accountability for lives lost during Ghana's 2020 and 2024 general elections.
Despite acknowledging the peaceful nature of the 2024 elections, Mahama emphasized the urgent need for justice to prevent future electoral violence.
Speaking during a special National Muslim prayer and thanksgiving service at the National Mosque in Kanda, Accra, on January 10, the President expressed concerns that if left unaddressed, these incidents could create a culture of impunity.
To prevent this, Mahama has called upon the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, to launch a thorough investigation into the killings and bring those responsible to justice.
“Even though this election passed on peacefully, we must recognise that a few of our citizens lost their lives. My understanding is that almost five of our citizens were killed in the process of the elections. This is not the first time, in 2020 [election], we know that 8 of our citizens were killed,'' he stated.
“If this continues, and justice is not served, and what it does is that it breeds impunity. And that is why we as a party [National Democratic Congress], have said that we must investigate to find out what led to these killings. So that we can take action so that they don’t happen again.”
“I have asked my Executive Secretary to write to the IGP to give us a report on the status of investigations into these killings. Justice must be done.”
“We would also ask the Attorney General when he assumes office to determine a fair and adequate compensation to the families,'' he added.
Source: Florence Kyei / Lead News Online
