Ghanaian authorities charge 26 suspects over election violence

Ghanaian Interior Minister Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka announced that 26 suspects linked to killings during the 2020 and 2024 general elections have been brought before the courts. Of these, 25 are currently standing trial, while one individual has been discharged. Authorities are also actively pursuing 13 additional suspects who have been identified but not yet arrested.

The legal actions follow an investigation by a Special Investigation Task Force established by President John Dramani Mahama. The task force, operating within the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, was mandated to review fatal incidents from the previous two election cycles to ensure accountability and prevent future violence.

The investigation confirmed 12 specific cases—six from the 2020 election and six from 2024—resulting in a total of 15 deaths and 40 injuries across several regions, including Bono East, Greater Accra, Bono, Northern, Central, Savannah, and Ashanti. The Minister noted that firearms were involved in nearly all the confirmed cases, which included clashes between political supporters and instances involving security personnel.