The Executive Director of Care for Free and Fair Elections and Good Governance, David Kumi Addo, has called on the government and security agencies to take decisive action against political violence, warning that failure to deal with such incidents could threaten Ghana’s peace and democratic stability ahead of the 2028 general elections.
Mr Kumi Addo said if acts of political violence and inflammatory rhetoric are allowed to persist without appropriate action, it could expose weaknesses in the government and the country’s security architecture.
He argued that the state invests significant resources in the security agencies to equip them to protect citizens, maintain peace and safeguard Ghana’s sovereignty, particularly during periods of heightened political activity.
According to him, the security agencies, especially the Ghana Police Service, must demonstrate that they will not tolerate conduct or speeches that have the potential to incite violence.
He called for stronger security measures, thorough investigations and the arrest and prosecution of persons found to have engaged in activities that threaten the country’s peace and stability.
Mr Kumi Addo said the responsibility of the security agencies extends beyond responding to violence after it occurs, stressing the need for proactive measures to prevent political tensions from escalating into violence.
He questioned whether adequate investigations and prosecutions had followed some previous incidents of political violence and security breaches.
Among the incidents he cited was the military intervention in Parliament in January 2021, during a chaotic confrontation over the election of the Speaker of Parliament.
He also referenced violence recorded in Kasoa and Techiman South, questioning what actions had been taken to fully investigate the incidents and hold those responsible accountable.
Mr Kumi Addo warned that allowing such incidents to go without credible investigations, arrests and prosecution could embolden others to engage in similar acts.
He said consistent enforcement of the law is necessary to send a clear signal that political affiliation will not shield anyone from accountability.
He further criticised what he described as a weakness in the prosecution of political crimes under NDC governments, arguing that the issue of accountability must be addressed regardless of which political party is in power.
According to him, the security response to political violence and other threats to Ghana’s stability will be crucial in determining public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions ahead of the 2028 elections.
He therefore urged the Inspector-General of Police and the leadership of the security services to take firm and timely action whenever there are credible threats to peace and public order.
Mr Kumi Addo stressed that protecting Ghana’s peace should remain a shared national responsibility, but the security agencies have a particular duty to ensure that political competition does not degenerate into violence or undermine the country’s democratic process.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe