President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians both home and abroad to rise above political divisions and recommit to building a united nation under the red, gold, and green flag with the black star.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Post-2024 Elections Evaluation Dialogue held in Koforidua on Friday, the President disclosed that peace building was not an event but rather a continuous journey deeply rooted in deliberate commitment with a shared national destiny and identity.
To this, he instructed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to accelerate investigations into incidents of violence that occurred during the 2024 general elections and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
According to him, despite the overall peaceful nature of the elections and a successful transition of power, the process was marred by isolated violent episodes in various parts of the country, resulting in six deaths.
Addressing participants at the event, which was organized by the National Peace Council, President Mahama condemned the violence in strong terms and emphasised the need for swift justice.
“I urge the IGP to fast-track the investigation of all reported cases of election-related violence and prosecute the perpetrators without delay,” he stated.
The President also revealed that the Attorney General was finalizing a report for Cabinet, which will propose compensation packages for victims and families affected by the disturbances.
While highlighting Ghana’s enduring democratic stability, President Mahama expressed concern over the country’s drop in the 2024 Global Peace Index—from 51st to 55th—though Ghana remains the most peaceful country in West Africa.
He called for increased vigilance and proactive strategies to address the underlying causes of political tensions and divisions.
President Mahama commended the Electoral Commission, security services, civil society organisations, political parties, and the electorate for their collective role in maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.
However, he stressed that the commitment to democracy must extend beyond Election Day and underscored the importance of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act, 2019 (Act 999) in combating political violence and applauded the National Peace Council and its partners for their continued efforts to ensure peaceful elections.
The President also urged authorities to thoroughly investigate how official Electoral Commission ballot papers and materials ended up in unauthorized hands during the election, calling it a grave violation that must be addressed with urgency.
Reaffirming his administration’s dedication to inclusive governance, adherence to the rule of law, and national cohesion, President Mahama noted that sustainable development cannot occur in an environment of fear, exclusion, and mistrust.
As the dialogue concluded, he encouraged participants to forward key recommendations—on electoral transparency, misinformation, youth participation, and good governance—to the appropriate bodies, including the Constitutional Review Committee.