Political impunity and self-serving politics continue to drive the cycle of election violence in Ghana, according to Dr. Kwame Asah Asante, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana.
Dr. Asah Asante believes that the failure of successive governments to punish offenders has entrenched lawlessness among political actors and their supporters. Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, he explained that politicians often shield perpetrators because they benefit from their actions.
“Impunity is what has brought us this far,” he said. “When people commit violent acts and help their parties win power, they are rewarded instead of punished.”
He cited the unresolved cases of shooting incidents during the 2020 general election as an example of the state’s reluctance to act. “Eight people were killed in 2020. We discussed it for a while, and that was the end of the story,” he lamented.
A recent report from the Ministry of the Interior supports his claim, linking at least 15 deaths and over 40 injuries recorded in the 2020 and 2024 elections to firearm use by security forces and party loyalists across several regions.
Dr. Asah Asante said the silence around such tragedies weakens public confidence in democracy. He urged both citizens and state institutions to demand justice and accountability to break the cycle.
“If we all rise to demand accountability, Ghana will go far,” he insisted. “Elections should be contests of ideas, not violence. You either win or lose and prepare to return another time.”
He also cautioned political leaders against encouraging supporters to engage in violent acts for political advantage. According to him, the same supporters are often abandoned once their parties assume power.
Dr. Asah Asante concluded that Ghana can only preserve its democratic reputation if political parties shift toward issue-based campaigning and law enforcement agencies act without fear or favour.
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