Reverend Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, has voiced serious concerns over the persistent issue of electoral violence in the country.
He criticized successive governments for their inability to effectively tackle this problem, which has marred Ghana’s elections and led to violence, including eight deaths and numerous injuries in the most recent polls.
In an interview with Citi News, Reverend Opuni-Frimpong highlighted the need for the government to act on the recommendations made after the 2020 election violence.
He expressed frustration at the lack of progress and accountability, questioning why the issue is not being addressed more urgently.
“Sometimes you ask yourself, why are our leaders not concerned about these instances of electoral violence and the resultant deaths? Our hands are stained with blood, and as a country, we should be apprehensive.
It is not only in the 2020 elections that we have seen such violence; nearly every election has recorded similar incidents,” Reverend Opuni-Frimpong said.
He called for visible actions from the government and the Ghana Police Service to address the violence.
“As we approach the 2024 elections, it would help if the government and the police could provide evidence that, even if investigations are not complete, the process is ongoing and we know who is being prosecuted.
We need to find those responsible for the deaths of the eight individuals and ensure they are prosecuted, and if necessary, provide compensation to their families.”
The former Christian Council General Secretary also urged political parties to take responsibility for any inflammatory rhetoric that could incite violence. He stressed the importance of internal party leadership in mitigating conflict and promoting peace.
“The political parties must address any statements that could lead to violence. Mature leaders within these parties should engage in behind-the-scenes efforts to heal divisions and speak out against unacceptable comments,” he said.
Reverend Opuni-Frimpong emphasized that it is troubling that neither the New Patriotic Party (NPP) nor the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has publicly condemned harmful statements made by their members. He called for party leaders to stand against such rhetoric and demonstrate a commitment to peaceful electoral processes.
