Police in Ghana have arrested more than a hundred people, mostly opposition supporters of newly elected President John Mahama, for lawless acts.
Supporters of the newly elected president seeking jobs have reportedly attacked some state institutions, looted property and engaged in riots that injured police and military personnel.
The angry supporters also set fire to two offices of the election commission over a delay in announcing the results of Saturday’s elections and disagreement over some parliamentary results.
Mahama has condemned the vandalism and called on President Nana Akufo-Addo and the security services to “act decisively” in tackling the violence.
Vice President Bawumia, the defeated presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has publicly called on the president-elect to reign in his supporters.
In Ghana, it is common for supporters of the winning party to take over state institutions and demand that appointees of the incumbent government leave office before the elected president is sworn in.
This phenomenon is rooted in the country’s winner-takes-all politics, where the party in power controls everything, including jobs and contracts.
There have been similar attacks during previous transitions – a development that civil society has condemned.
Police have warned all individuals and groups guilty of violence and say they will not tolerate any form of lawlessness.
So far, 106 people have been arrested, including nine who were arrested on Tuesday for setting fire to an election commission office in the eastern region.
The Ghanaian military has also warned the public against attempts to disarm soldiers, following incidents of groups targeting those deployed to support police in maintaining order in the country.
“The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to caution that military personnel on authorized duty have the right to defend themselves, innocent civilians and property, including the use of lethal force, if necessary to save lives,” said a statement signed by Brigadier General E Aggrey. -Quarshie.
Catholic bishops have condemned the violence as “unacceptable and contrary to the core values of peace, unity and respect for life that we hold dear as a nation.”
They have urged political leaders to take responsibility for the actions of their followers.
In a live broadcast on Tuesday evening, Mahama condemned the acts of vandalism and urged his supporters to exercise restraint, while also calling on the outgoing government and security agencies to take immediate action.
“As state power remains in the hands of the current government, I call on the president and security forces to act decisively to immediately curb the ongoing acts of lawlessness,” he said.
Mahama will be sworn in on January 7, 2025.
[Getty Images/BBC]
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