Interior Ministry blames the use of firearms for election deaths

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has revealed that most violent incidents recorded during Ghana’s 2020 and 2024 general elections involved the use of firearms mainly by supporters of the two major political parties and, in some cases, by security personnel deployed to maintain order.

Presenting a report on election-related violence at a press conference, Mr. Mubarak said investigations showed that nearly all the cases stemmed from clashes between party supporters or from the use of live ammunition by security forces attempting to disperse crowds.

“The circumstances of each case vary, but almost all involved the use of firearms either by political party supporters during confrontations or by security personnel who fired live rounds or warning shots for crowd control,” he explained.

Mr. Mubarak noted that one major investigation into the 2020 election violence at Odododiodio in the Greater Accra Region has been completed, and the Attorney General is now prosecuting three individuals before the High Court in Accra.

He added that investigations also revealed that three incidents, which led to four deaths, were caused by armed police patrol teams, while military personnel were responsible for three other cases that resulted in three fatalities during efforts to restore order.

The Interior Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring accountability for all election-related deaths and to strengthening coordination among security agencies during future electoral operations.