A Fellow at the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Kwaku Asare, has expressed his support for investigations into the deaths that occurred during the 2020 and 2024 general elections.

According to him, such investigations are essential to uncover the causes of the fatalities and hold perpetrators accountable.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, January 11, Mr Asare expressed concern not only about conducting investigations into the deaths but also about the lack of accountability and the failure to address these incidents earlier.

• Read also: Mahama demands update from IGP on election-related deaths in 2020, 2024

He explained that it is the Ghana Police Service's primary mandate to investigate matters of public concern, such as election-related fatalities.

He criticised the Police for waiting for directives from President John Mahama to take action.

“The police should not wait for the President to come and tell them to investigate the death of somebody. 

“That is something that we pay them to do, and if they are not doing it, then we want to know why. Were there political pressures on them and so on, and then hold the people accountable who did not allow that to happen,” he stated.

His comments follow President Mahama’s directive to his Executive Secretary to formally request an update from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, on the status of investigations into election-related deaths.

Speaking at the National Muslim Prayer and Thanksgiving event held at the National Mosque in Kanda, Accra, on Friday, January 10, President Mahama emphasised the need for justice to prevent impunity.

"This is not the first time. In 2020, we know that eight of our citizens were killed. If these continue and justice is not served, then what it does is, it breeds impunity,” President Mahama stated.

He stressed that investigations are crucial to identifying the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensuring that such incidents do not recur.

"As a party, we have said that we must investigate and find out what led to these killings so that we can take action so that they don't happen again," the President added.