Ghana’s National Election Security Taskforce (NESTF) says it has recorded a total of sixty-one electoral and post-electoral incidents nationwide, noting that twenty-one of the incidents are true cases of electoral violence, six of which involved gunshots resulting in the death of five.
In a press statement Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman said the cases involving gunshots occurred as follows: “Central region, Awutu Senya East constituency, injured from a shooting incident by civilian(s) in the community during election
period on 07-12-20.
“Greater Accra region, Odododiodio constituency, 2 dead and 6 injured from a shooting incident by civilian(s) in the community
during post-election period on 07-12-20. Ablekuma Central, 4 injured including a policeman from a shooting incident at the collation centre during postelection period on 08-12-20.
“Bono East region, Techiman South constituency, 2 dead and 4 injured from shooting by security personnel at the collation centre during
post-election period on 08-12-20.
“Northern region, Savelugu Constituency: a shooting incident by civilian(s) at the Police Station, when people besieged the station
during post-election period on 08-12-20. 1 dead and 3 injured from a shooting incident by civilian(s) in the community during post-election period on 08-12-20.”
Abayie-Buckman, a Superintendent of Police and the Director, Public Affairs of the Taskforce noted that incidents recorded could have been avoided and therefore condemned their occurrence and promising to investigate each one of them.
According to her, the taskforce noticed instances of fake news and misleading information during the election and warned citizens who engaged in such to desist.
“The NESTF sighted old videos in circulation, portrayed as incidents related to the ongoing electioneering exercise. The videos included police regional simulation exercises in the run-up to this year’s elections, where the media were invited to cover as part of Police engagement with the media, as key stakeholders of Ghana’s democracy.
“Once again, the NESTF condemns these publications and warns that it is against the law for any person to send false or misleading communication. Any person who indulges in such will be arrested and prosecuted,” she said.
By Abel Ejikeme