Interior Minister links election violence to firearm use by party supporters, security officers

Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has offered fresh details on the deadly clashes recorded during the 2020 and 2024 polls.

According to him, firearms were at the centre of most incidents, whether fired by political supporters in heated confrontations or used by security personnel attempting to disperse crowds.

Addressing journalists in Accra, he said reviews of the cases showed a consistent pattern, where tensions between the country’s two major parties often escalated into armed confrontations, with security officers occasionally resorting to live rounds or warning shots.

“The circumstances of each case vary, but nearly all involve the use of firearms during confrontations between supporters of the two major political parties and instances where security personnel resorted to the use of live ammunition or warning shots as a means of crowd control,” he explained.

Touching on ongoing accountability efforts, he confirmed that investigations into the Odododiodio violence from the 2020 elections have been completed, with three accused persons currently standing trial at the High Court.

He further disclosed that four deaths were linked to armed police patrol teams, while military personnel caused three additional fatalities during attempts to restore calm, underscoring the gravity of the security lapses.