Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has announced that the government has begun taking decisive legal and administrative actions in response to violent incidents recorded during the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
The measures include the prosecution of identified perpetrators and compensation packages for victims and their families, reflecting what the Minister described as “a firm commitment to justice, accountability, and institutional reform.”
Addressing the press in Accra, Hon. Muntaka explained that the report of the Special Investigative Task Force—set up on the directive of President John Dramani Mahama—had completed an exhaustive review of election-related violence across multiple regions.
The task force investigated a total of 12 specific cases linked to the deaths of 15 persons and injuries to 40 others during the two election periods.
The Minister said the investigations revealed “clear breaches of discipline, violations of legal requirements, and acts of negligence” by certain security officers who were present at scenes of unrest or failed to act appropriately in volatile circumstances.
“Our focus was to avoid confusing procedural breaches with the main mandate, which is to investigate, identify, and prosecute persons responsible for deaths during the two general elections in 2020 and 2024.”
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak
Through what he described as “careful review of police dockets, on-site inspections, and stakeholder interviews,” the task force identified 21 suspects, reconstructed scenes of the crimes, and conducted forensic and ballistic examinations. Eleven new case dockets have since been built, leading to several arrests and ongoing prosecutions.
“Four suspects have been arrested and placed in police enquiry booths to facilitate further investigations. Five others are currently on remand, while warrants have been issued for fugitives”.
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak
Notable Cases in 2020
Among the notable cases is the Odododiodio incident from the 2020 elections, where three individuals are standing trial at the High Court, Criminal Division in Accra, for attempted murder.
The investigation established that armed police patrols were involved, while military personnel were linked to three separate cases that resulted in fatalities. According to him, four of the cases, which led to five deaths, were recorded when politically motivated supporters resorted to the use of firearms.
At Techiman South, where multiple fatalities occurred, the report concluded that the use of live ammunition by security personnel was unjustified and avoidable. “The injury could have been prevented had the security personnel not resorted to the use of live ammunition for crowd control,” the Minister said.
He disclosed that heavy rainfall after the incident had complicated forensic recovery, but the case has been referred to the Cold Case Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further examination. “The state should take responsibility to compensate families who lost their breadwinners,” the report recommended.
Similarly, the Ablekuma Central (Odawkor Police Stretch) case involved the death of one individual, identified as Abass Ibrahim, allegedly shot by a person in military uniform. The task force found that “the soldiers interviewed denied knowledge of the individual who fired the shot.”
The Minister confirmed that the case has been referred to the Attorney General for compensation and that the police Cold Case Unit will continue the search for the unidentified shooter. In Banda Ahenkro in the Bono Region, investigations were hampered by tensions between local communities.
The task force recommended that the family of the deceased, Selass Wolongkami, be compensated and that the case also be forwarded to the Cold Case Unit for further probe. The Minister reiterated the government’s determination to pursue justice “no matter how long it takes.”
Other significant cases include the Dorma West and Saverigu Constituency incidents, both from the 2020 elections, where investigations concluded that the use of live ammunition by police was inappropriate.
“No police officer or security detail at the registration centres was under attack for his or her life to be in immediate danger,” the Minister said, quoting the report’s conclusion. Victims identified as Eliasu Gabriel and Kwame Gachang, as well as the family of the deceased, are to receive compensation.
In Saverigu, where one person was killed and three others injured by a high-velocity rifle shot, the task force concluded that “the shooter could not be conclusively identified,” prompting referral to the Cold Case Unit.
Cases in the 2024 Election
Turning to the 2024 elections, the Minister said similar investigations are ongoing in the Awutu Senya East, Tolon, Nkoranza South, Offinso North, and Ahafo Ano Southwest constituencies.
At Awutu Senya East, the report notes that the case involving the death of Yusuf Larry Idris remains open, with the main suspects, including one Muhammad Ali, yet to cooperate with investigators.
In the Tolon Constituency, the report documented an attack led by armed men allegedly under the command of Alhaji Yakubu Abdul Latif Kopshi, resulting in one death and multiple injuries.
The suspects have fled the community, but the task force has urged “a concerted manhunt” and directed the police to work with local traditional leaders to retrieve illegal weapons.
The report also called for compensation for the victims’ families and for education on the dangers of arms proliferation. The Nkoranza South case involved 16 soldiers, five of whom were identified as having been present when the late Abdul Karim Rafik, alias Tyson, was shot.
“One soldier, Lance Corporal Danquah Damina Okyere, admitted to firing the shot but claimed it was to defend a colleague under perceived threat,” Hon. Muntaka explained. The case has been referred to the Attorney General for advice on prosecution.
At Offinso North (Akomadan), 12 suspects were identified in the lynching of two individuals, including the late Jacob Nallor. “Five have been arrested and remanded in prison custody, while others remain at large,” the Minister said.
Similarly, in Ahafo Ano Southwest, where one person, Dominic Nimo, was killed, the task force confirmed that soldiers fired warning shots that fatally struck bystanders. The government has forwarded this case to the Attorney General for compensation and further review.
Across all these cases, the Minister said, one message is clear: security agencies must overhaul their election security protocols. The task force strongly recommended “capacity building for police and all security personnel deployed for election duties” and called for the restriction of military involvement in crowd control. “The use of live ammunition as a means of dispersing crowds is unacceptable,” Hon. Muntaka stressed.
He added that President John Dramani Mahama had directed that the findings of the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election Commission of Inquiry be implemented in full as part of the government’s broader election security reforms.
Concluding his remarks, Hon. Muntaka reaffirmed the government’s unwavering resolve to ensure justice, accountability, and reform.
“Under the able leadership of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, we are committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that elections in this country remain peaceful and credible. God bless our homeland, Ghan,a and make it great and strong.”
Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak
In conclusion, the government’s move to prosecute offenders and compensate victims of the 2020 and 2024 election-related violence marks a significant step toward accountability, justice, and institutional reform.
By reopening unresolved cases and implementing the recommendations of the investigative task force, the Mahama administration is signaling a renewed commitment to ending impunity and restoring public trust in Ghana’s democratic process.
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