The call is among other recommendations made by the organization in a project report dubbed, Post-Elections Accountability on Elections Security, which tracked progress on some 12 cases of electoral violence. 

Two of the cases were in the Ashanti Region (Fomena and Asante Akyem North), three in the Central Region (Awutu Senya East, Ajumako Enyan Essiam and Awutu Senya East), one in the Bono East region (Techiman South), two in the Northern Region (Kpandai and Savelugu), two in the Greater Accra Region (Odododiodoo and Ablekuma Central) and two in the Bono Region (Banda and Dormaa West).

As part of the project, CDD-Ghana and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), followed up on  the cases to validate them at the respective constituencies and Regional Police  Commands where the incidents were said to have occurred.

The follow-up was also to ascertain their  current status within the justice delivery system. The constituencies and regions were selected based on  their record of major electoral violence cases during the 2020 electoral process. 

It was found that four of the cases were still in court while three were still under police investigation.

Two of the cases were settled by the parties involved while three of the cases had been forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for advice.

CDD-Ghana is of the view that failing to prosecute and ensure justice, could erode public trust in the security and criminal justice  system and increase the tendency for potential reprisal attacks in future elections. 

In its recommendations, it said the Ghana Police, Service must periodically provide the public with updates on the status of  each of the cases as a way of enhancing transparency in the handling of these cases. 

It also urged the courts that have commenced hearing of the cases to consider the circumstances of these cases and the implications on Ghana’s democratic and rule of law credentials, and  give expeditious hearings for appropriate and deserved justice for the victims, and also serve as a deterrent to others.

See highlights of the report below: