Mahama orders investigation into eight deaths from 2020, 2024 election violence

The Office of the President has directed the Inspector-General of Police to launch an immediate investigation into the deaths of eight Ghanaian citizens during the 2020 and 2024 general elections.

In a letter dated January 10, 2025, the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, instructed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to prioritise the inquiry. 

The investigation will focus on uncovering the circumstances surrounding the fatalities, which occurred at polling stations across the country.

A special task force within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is expected to lead the probe. 

Its mandate includes interviewing witnesses, consulting victims’ families, and employing forensic techniques to analyse evidence such as bullet casings and weaponry.

The directive also calls for collaboration with the Electoral Commission and civic groups to review past election reports for added context. 

Regular updates on the investigation’s progress have been requested to ensure transparency and accountability.

“These deaths demand answers, and justice must be served. The integrity of our democratic process depends on it,” the statement from the presidency read.