Governance expert, Dr. Bernard Bingab, has called on government to ensure that individuals involved in violent incidents during the 2025 by-election are also held accountable, cautioning against focusing investigations solely on the 2020 and 2024 election-related cases.
This follows revelations by the Interior Minister, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, that 21 suspects have been identified in connection with the violence in 2020 and 2024, which claimed 15 lives and left 40 others injured.
Speaking to Tutuwaa Danso on Starr Today, Dr. Bingab stated that government should not concentrate only on what happened in 2020 and 2024 while neglecting the events of 2025.
“The English concept of ‘my government is in power, therefore I can do whatever I want’ is what is ruining this country,” Dr. Bingab cautioned.
He cited past incidents such as the Akwatia by-election, where, according to him, an NDC vice-chair was allegedly involved in an assault captured on video. “What has become of that matter?” he questioned.
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Dr. Bingab emphasized that government must not focus solely on the 2020 and 2024 election-related cases while ignoring those from the 2025 by-election.
“The government should not take interest in what happened in 2020 and leave what is happening in 2025. If the state finds that a judgment was too lenient, it has every right to appeal,” he said.
He further warned that failing to address the culture of impunity would only embolden future offenders.
“If we do not kill that concept of ‘my government is in power, I can do what I want,’ then in 2028, someone else will repeat the same actions,” he added.
Dr. Bingab urged the government to take interest in all instances of electoral misconduct, regardless of scale or political affiliation.
“Even in small local elections, we see the kind of violence that often erupts. The government must take interest, even in minor incidents, because these small acts of violence eventually grow into what we witness during general elections,” he said.
He concluded by encouraging government not to be selective in its pursuit of justice.
“I strongly urge government not to focus only on the 2020 and 2024 elections, but also to take interest in the 2025 by-election and ensure that those who misbehaved, whether known individuals or party supporters, are held accountable.”
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
