The Programs Manager of the Centre for Democratic Development of Ghana (CDD-Ghana), Nana Kwabena Aborompah Mensah, has said that his outfit recorded 76 cases of violence during the 2024 general elections.
He explained that six of the cases resulted in deaths, while 45 cases led to the victims sustaining serious injuries.
He noted that the number of violent cases in 2024 far outweighs the numbers recorded during the 2020 general elections, which is worrying and dangerous for democracy.
Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb, he bemoaned why victims involved in election-related violence do not get justice from the perpetrators, adding that his outfit will ensure it is not repeated this time around.
“Comparing the data from 2020 to 2024. In 2020, we had 31 recorded incidents in our system, comprising the death cases, which recorded eight in number in 2020, serious or fatal injuries, and also destruction of properties. This time, we've recorded 76 with six death cases, 24 vandalism and invasion incidents, and around 45 fatal injuries.
"So, this is one revealing outcome. We had to, at least from the tracking project we did after the 2020 elections, realise that victims of electoral violence hardly get justice, and perpetrators hardly get prosecuted. It's also another revelation that we think we need to also take into account," he said.
The 2024 general elections were marred by violent acts, as some political party supporters vandalised state institutions and the residences of government officials.
Meanwhile, John Dramani Mahama won the elections with overwhelming endorsement from Ghanaians and will be inaugurated on January 7, 2025.
Watch CDD-Ghana's report on 2024 post-election violence below:
SB/AE