Ghana's 2020 and 2024 general elections, marred by violence have resulted in the death of fifteen people with forty others injured, including the identification of 21 suspects.

This information was made public by the Minister for Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, while addressing journalists at a press briefing on Tuesday, November 4 on the findings of the Task Force regarding electoral violence.

"The Special Investigation Task Force identified twelve cases that took place during the 2020 and 2024 General Elections. These cases had resulted in fifteen deaths across the country."

"Through careful review of police dockets, on-site inspections, and stakeholder interviews, the Special Investigation Task Force identified twelve specific cases. I must be quick to add that i have since instructed that the report of the commission on the election violence at Ayawaso West Wuogon be implemented fully for justice to prevail. Six each from the 2020 and the 2024 General Elections, which collectively led to fifteen deaths and injured 40 others," the minister stated.

On January 16, 2025, the Inspector-General of Police inaugurated a Special Investigation Task Force within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. The mandate of the Task Force was to collaborate with all stakeholders; to identify, review, and investigate all electoral violence cases that resulted in fatalities during the 2020 and 2024 General Elections.

Earlier this year, the Office of the President, John Mahama, formally petitioned the Ghana Police Service to launch an immediate investigation into the deaths of Ghanaians during the 2020 and 2024 general elections.

In a letter addressed to the IGP, the Office described the incidents as "a lasting scar on our democratic process," emphasizing the need for justice for the victims and their families.

The letter recommended key measures to ensure a comprehensive and transparent investigation, including the "establishment of a dedicated investigative taskforce" within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to focus solely on the cases for "undivided attention and efficient handling of the matter."

It further proposed "collaboration with witnesses and families," urging investigators to conduct "thorough interviews with eyewitnesses, victims' families, and other relevant individuals who may provide crucial information."

Additionally, the statement called for a "review of electoral security arrangements" to examine the actions of security personnel deployed at the affected polling stations to determine "their involvement or oversight" in the tragic incidents.

The letter also emphasized the importance of forensic analysis, urging the use of "advanced forensic techniques to analyze any physical evidence from the crime scenes, including bullet casings, weaponry, and other materials."

The President's Office encouraged collaboration with electoral bodies, stating, "Work with the Electoral Commission and other relevant agencies to review reports from the 2020 and 2024 elections for additional context."

To ensure public trust, the Office of the President requested "periodic updates on the progress of the investigation," stressing that it would help "keep stakeholders informed and assure the public of your commitment to uncovering the truth."

Speaking at the National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving event at the National Mosque in Accra on Friday, January 10, Mr. Mahama reiterated the need for justice.

"If these continue and justice is not served, then what it does is, it breeds impunity. And that's why, as a party, we have said that we must investigate and find out what led to these killings so that we can take action so that they don't happen again."

The call came after the deaths of approximately eight Ghanaians during the 2020 elections and about six more in the recently concluded 2024 polls. Several electorates were injured during these two electoral processes.

The Office of the President expressed confidence in the professionalism of the CID, stating, "We are confident in the competence and professionalism of the Criminal Investigations Department and trust that your efforts will yield the necessary results to bring justice to the victims and their families while preserving the integrity of Ghana's democratic process."

The government has promised relief to victims of electoral violence, particularly those who suffered attacks during the 2020 and 2024 elections.

Speaking during a courtesy call by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at the Jubilee House in Accra on Friday, September 5, President John Dramani Mahama disclosed that he has received a report from the Ghana Police Service detailing all victims of electoral violence.

He added that once the necessary review of the report is completed, the affected individuals will receive appropriate compensation.

According to him, this comes after he tasked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to investigate the incidents upon assuming office, adding that the IGP has delivered on his mandate by presenting him with a comprehensive report detailing all those affected, including individuals who lost their lives and those who sustained various degrees of injury.

His outfit has submitted the report to the Attorney General for perusal, to determine the rightful compensation package for the victims.

“I wish to inform you that last week, I received the investigative report on the two incidents, and they have detailed and catalogued everybody who was affected by the violence and the circumstances that led to the violence.”

“We have given him [the Attorney General] the terms of reference to look at what adequate compensation would be for people who have been the victims of violence, including those who died, their families are still there, and then those who were some have been injured and are living with injury.“What is the adequate compensation that we can give to people like that?”, President Mahama noted.

He continued, “ We have handed it over to the Attorney General, and he’s going to go through, and if there’s the need to hold some people culpable and bring them to book, the Attorney General will do that”.Additionally, President Mahama has assured that the compensation package will also include journalists who, over the years, have been victims of electoral violence on multiple occasions.

“...And so once that is done, I’m sure that if there were journalists involved, they would also be considered for compensation,” he added.