Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has declared an unwavering stance against political vigilantism, vowing to pursue justice in the aftermath of the violent incidents that marred the Ablekuma North constituency rerun elections.
The Minister made these remarks during the first edition of the Government Accountability Series, organised by the Presidency Communications Directorate, where he used the platform to reiterate government’s commitment to peace, security, and the rule of law.
“I want to remind myself and all Ghanaians about the provisions of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act 2019. All of us need to be mindful of the activities of vigilantism. Not my party, not any group will be allowed to sit and watch the resurgence of vigilantism. We will not condone it—whether it comes from people within our party or from outside.”
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak
Turning his attention to the recent chaos during the Ablekuma North rerun, the Minister revealed that he had already engaged the Inspector-General of Police COP Christian Tetteh Yohonu on the matter.
He confirmed that video evidence of the incidents had been submitted to the Ghana Police Service, with clear instructions to take immediate action.
The Ablekuma North rerun election, which was supposed to be a routine democratic exercise, turned violent, drawing widespread condemnation from both political leaders and civil society.
Pattern of Electoral Violence
The Minister lamented the recurring pattern of electoral violence, particularly after three decades of Ghana’s democratic practice.
“It is a scar on all of our consciences that, as a people who have practiced democracy for over three decades, we can’t simply have elections that are violence-free”.
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak
He noted, however, that there has been a shift in the culture of silence around election-related violence, citing the swift condemnation from political leadership.
“Almost all of us at the top have condemned it. In the past, you would not get that. The Vice President has done that. The President is out of the country, and the Vice President is leading us and she condemned it.
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak
On the matter of a journalist who was assaulted during the rerun election, the Minister confirmed that the police officer involved has been identified. “We know where he is, we know where we can find him, and we can easily go after him,” Hon. Muntaka revealed.
However, he acknowledged that tracking down some of the other individuals involved has been more challenging, with some reportedly going into hiding. Despite this, he assured the public that no one would be allowed to escape justice.
Hon. Muntaka emphasized that safeguarding peace and security is not solely the responsibility of government or security agencies, but a collective civic duty.
“We must all contribute our quota in ensuring that we live peacefully with each other regardless of gender, religion, ethnic origin, or economic or social status.”
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarack
Call to End Violence
He called on all Ghanaians to reject violence in all forms and to promote peaceful coexistence in their communities. The Minister closed his statement by reaffirming the Ministry of the Interior’s unyielding commitment to national peace and security.
“Ladies and gentlemen, peace and security are paramount in the development of any nation. It is therefore our collective responsibility as Ghanaians to preserve it. On this note, I wish to thank you for this opportunity to assure the people of this country that, as a ministry, we shall remain committed to this course”.
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarack
The Government Accountability Series, which aims to promote transparency and responsive governance, provided a timely forum for addressing the disturbing events in Ablekuma North.
Hon. Muntaka’s remarks not only reaffirmed the government’s stance against political violence but also sent a clear signal that Ghana’s democratic gains will not be undermined by impunity or indifference.
His promise of swift justice and institutional action marks a critical step in restoring public confidence in the country’s democratic processes.
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