The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has strongly condemned incidents of post-election violence, vandalism, and assaults on state officials and properties following the December 7, 2024, general elections. These acts, which reportedly intensified after the transition of power from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on January 7, 2025, have sparked concerns over Ghana’s political stability.
In a statement, CDD-Ghana expressed dismay over the persistent pattern of post-election disorder, often orchestrated by partisans of the winning party. The organization warned that allowing such incidents to go unchecked could embed them into Ghana’s political culture, undermining the nation’s democratic values and peace efforts.
The Center urged law enforcement agencies to act decisively, ensuring that perpetrators face justice. Additionally, CDD-Ghana called on President John Dramani Mahama’s government to deliver on its promise to “Reset Governance and Politics in Ghana” by unequivocally condemning these acts and supporting law enforcement actions against offenders.
The statement emphasized that the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act (2019), which successfully reduced party-aligned political vigilantism, serves as a model for addressing post-election hooliganism. CDD-Ghana proposed enhanced criminal penalties for such behavior and urged future transition teams to prioritize strategies to curb partisan violence during government handovers.
While commending Ghana’s steady progress in democratic governance, evidenced by the orderly conduct of the December 7 elections, CDD-Ghana stressed the need for sustained efforts to ensure post-election periods are devoid of violence and damage to lives and property.
About CDD-Ghana
Founded in 1998, CDD-Ghana is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to advancing democracy, good governance, and inclusive development in Ghana and Africa. It serves as the convener for various electoral and governance networks, including the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) and the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS).