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A group of civil society organizations have called on the Ghana Police Service to expedite investigations into acts of violence during the recent general elections.
The group is unhappy that there have been “few arrests and prosecutions” in connection with election-related violence.
The 2020 elections were marked by military personnel policing urban areas and some voting centers.
At least seven people were killed in election-related violence during the elections.
The group in a statement indicated that “the loss of life had not been accounted for” by the police.
“We are concerned that the public has not been updated on the progress of the police investigations into these incidents,” he added in a statement.
There were 61 cases of electoral and post-electoral violence throughout the country.
Twenty-one of the incidents were actual cases of electoral violence, six of which involved shooting.
Another person later died from injuries caused by the violent incidents.
The group asked the Police to quickly investigate these incidents “without fear or favor and to keep the public informed about progress in this regard.”
The CSO group includes the Civic Forum Initiative (CFI), the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), the Center for Democratic Development (CDD), the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Norsaac, the Ark Foundation, the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Citizen Movement Against Corruption (CMAC), IMANI, STAR Ghana Foundation among others.
Below is the CSO statement
PRESS RELEASE
Of civil society organizations in electoral programming
(For Immediate Release – December 30, 2020)
Preserve the impartiality of the police service to protect national peace and security
At a virtual meeting of Civil Society Organizations, held on December 28th, 2020, to monitor and respond to developments within Ghana’s post-election environment, we note with appreciation the role that the Ghana Police Service has played in maintaining peace and security before, during and after the elections. 2020 general elections. We congratulate the Police for largely ensuring law and order, while respecting the democratic rights of citizens to protest, during the recent demonstrations by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the election results. .
We are aware of the critical stage in the post-election transition process that we have reached as a nation. This is the phase of disputes over the results of the elections, in court and through protests, and the inauguration of a new Parliament and the elected president. In this context, there is the possibility that latent frustrations turn into political violence, and likewise, that public jubilation and celebration may also turn into violence, if the Police are not considered to be apolitical and if the rights democratic citizens are violated.
Therefore, we have observed with concern recent events that threaten to tarnish the impartiality stance of the Police and influence the public perception of the Police Service as an apolitical state institution. We are referring to the Police directive that temporarily prohibits NDC demonstrations and protests, following a court order issued by the Court at the request of the Police.
We appreciate the security considerations that may have precipitated this directive; namely, the NDC’s stated intention of nationwide protests; and the possibility of an eruption of rebel protests as we move towards the national events that are due to take place on January 6th and 7th 2021.
However, in this same context, it is of the utmost importance that the Police Service maintains a position of impartiality in all its relations with political actors. The naming of the NDC for the previous directive has sent a signal of partisan political coloration to police action, which must be quickly corrected. To this end, we strongly call on the Police to work with the NDC and the PNP to ensure that the democratic rights of their members to peaceful protests are protected, to the extent that state security and safety is guaranteed. public.
We urge the Police to maintain an ongoing dialogue with political parties and stakeholders in this regard, and to engage with citizens in a way that respects their democratic right to protest or celebrate.
We call on the NPP and the NDC to ensure that their members remain within the law, whether in protest or celebration. We call on the faithful of the political parties to cooperate with the Police and work with them to ensure that the necessary conditions are met so that they can carry out peaceful protests.
We further note, with regret, that the police have not sufficiently evoked public confidence in their handling of the violent acts that occurred during the 2020 voter registration exercise and general elections. We congratulate the police on the arrest, prosecution and incarceration of the Sene West ballot thief. However, we find it unsatisfactory that despite the president’s stated commitment to turning a blind eye to the party on election-related violence, so few arrests and prosecutions have continued violence during both years, and that loss of life has not have been accounted for. for. We are concerned that the public has not been updated on the progress of the Police investigations into these incidents.
We call on the Police to expedite their investigations into each incident of election-related violence without fear or favor and to keep the public informed of progress in this regard. We call on the National Election Security Working Group to inform the public of the progress of its investigation into the matter involving the use of excessive force by security officials during elections.
In view of the role of the Judiciary in guaranteeing justice as a fundamental basis for public order, we call on the Judiciary to assure the public how the processes established to deal with cases related to elections are fair, open and can be trusted to dispense justice impartially, professionally and with integrity, in order to protect the long-term stability of our democracy.
In addition, we have observed allegations on social media of physical assault on a court bailiff by supporters of Hohoe constituency elected Member of Parliament John Peter Amewu and the apparent refusal of the police to arrest the perpetrators. We call on the Police Service to respond quickly to this accusation and to take decisive action to correct the perception that this has evoked from political undertones to the inaction of the Police.
As CSOs we firmly believe in the need for impartiality and non-partisanship of the Police Service. We hold that it is imperative that this impartiality and non-partisanship is preserved at all levels of the Service if law and order are to be ensured and Ghana’s democratic laurels are to be protected. We have the IGP and the entire Police Service to live up to the high vocation of their position and address the aforementioned developments, with an even hand and with equal measure to all political actors and interested parties.
We offer our support to the Police Service and the Judiciary and we are ready to continue collaborating with the leaders of both august institutions on these and other related issues.
At the service of God and the country.
Signatories:
Civic Forum Initiative (CFI)
Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG)
Center for Democratic Development (CDD)
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
Norsaac
The Ark Foundation
Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC)
Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII)
Citizen Movement Against Corruption (CMAC)
FAITH
STAR Ghana Foundation
— citinewsroom
