The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has condemned the reported violence in the just ended by-election in the Talensi Constituency of the Upper East Region.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Lzn35GIzZFq6dyIZkrfZY1z81GwtvEk7″]A statement signed by Dr Franklin Oduro, Head of Research and Programmes, CDD-Ghana, said reports of incidents of violence with sporadic firing of guns and attacks with machetes during the conduct of the polls was unacceptable.
The statement said the incident, which led to the hospitalization of victims and destruction of vehicles, raised serious concerns about the ease and impunity with which violence is unleashed during elections in Ghana.
“CDD-Ghana has taken note of and applauds the relative peacefulness that prevailed at the polling stations and the overall quality of the administration of the election itself; but notes the reported incidence of violence associated with it, although outside the polling stations, clearly undermines the democratic objective of peacefully electing political leaders”.
The statement said CDD-Ghana found it unacceptable and urged the law enforcement agencies to apprehend the alleged perpetrators of the violent acts and ensure that they face the full rigours of the law.
It said it was a better option than political parties trading accusations at each other as to who is responsible for such unacceptable acts of election-related violence.
The Centre has called on the security and law enforcement agencies, as a matter of urgency, to investigate the reported violence, arrest and prosecute all the alleged perpetrators involved in the violence.
“The 2016 general election is less than 18 months. If left un-investigated and alleged perpetrators escape justice, such acts of violence will serve as license for those who are intent on institutionalizing violence in Ghana’s electoral and democratic processes,” it said.
The statement said it is important that elections in Ghana are conducted in an environment free of fear, intimidation and violence; therefore the Centre will be monitoring the outcomes of the Police investigations into these incidents.
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Source: GNA