In the video, the man removes his army uniform, dons a blue campaign shirt emblazoned with Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s image, and sets it ablaze. This act not only signifies his defiance but also heightens the tension surrounding his message.
"We want to make it clear that the NPP has offered money for juju to influence votes, but we have refused. They don’t understand that if you are a killer, you must sleep. Killing is not easy," he stated.
In the lead-up to elections, it is not unusual for tensions to rise, often resulting in violent incidents, especially amid heightened political rivalries. Political campaigns in many countries, including Ghana, can devolve into confrontations, with supporters clashing over ideologies, party loyalty, or territorial disputes. Such environments often witness incidents of arson, physical altercations, and targeted threats as elections approach.
For instance, the Ghana Police Service reported 61 electoral incidents during the 2020 national elections, resulting in several fatalities.
Six of these incidents involved gunfire, and 21 were categorized as genuine electoral violence, including gunfire that caused deaths on election day and in its aftermath. A report from the Ghana Center for Democratic Development highlighted that violence affected 11 constituencies across six regions, emphasizing the prevalence of such occurrences in modern Ghana. The study noted that while sporadic incidents occurred on Election Day, tensions often escalated afterward, leading to rallies and demonstrations that sparked further clashes.
The high incidence of electoral violence in Ghana raises concerns about the stability and integrity of the democratic process. To mitigate these issues and ensure a peaceful election environment in the future, it is essential for security services, political parties, and civil society to collaborate effectively.
Credit:Pulse,EdHub.
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