CDD-Ghana demands urgent action on post-election violence

The Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called on the government of President John Dramani Mahama to prioritize curbing post-election partisan violence and hooliganism as part of its governance reset agenda.

In a statement released on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, CDD-Ghana emphasized the urgent need for law enforcement authorities to take decisive action against perpetrators of such acts.

The statement highlighted a recurring pattern of post-election violence in the Fourth Republic, often perpetrated by partisans of victorious political parties.

“This regrettable fact cannot excuse or justify the latest spate of post-election violence,” the statement read, adding that unchecked hooliganism risks becoming an entrenched feature of Ghana’s political culture, threatening peace and stability.

CDD-Ghana urged the newly installed government to send a strong, bipartisan message that these actions will no longer be tolerated. “At a minimum, the government must ensure that law enforcement authorities are empowered to act without interference,” the organization stressed.

Drawing on the success of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act (2019), CDD-Ghana proposed enhanced criminal penalties for post-election violence, similar to those in the vigilantism law.

The Center also recommended that future Transition Teams integrate measures to address partisan violence as a core component of the handover process.

The call to action follows reports of vandalism, hooliganism, and attacks on state officials and property in the wake of Ghana’s recent elections, underscoring the need for swift and firm action to safeguard the country’s democratic stability.