26 suspects before court over election-related violence – Minister

Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the Minister for Interior, announced on Monday that 26 suspects have been brought before the courts in connection with election-related violence. Out of the 26 suspects, one has been released and 25 are currently in the court system as investigations and prosecutions continue. This disclosure was made during the Government Accountability Series in Accra, where the Minister provided an update on the Ministry of Interior's activities from January 2025 to July 2026.

The cases are related to political and election-related violence that occurred during the 2020 and 2024 General Elections. Investigations have led to arrests and prosecutions across various constituencies. One notable case involves the Banda Constituency, where the suspect identified as the prime suspect, Gabriel Yao Eje, alias Abode, was arraigned before the Adabraka District Court on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

He was granted bail and the next hearing is scheduled for August 31, 2026. In another case in Akomadan, Ashanti Region, six suspects were arrested following a confrontation between supporters of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress. The incident resulted in the lynching of a person. Five suspects have already been released on bail, while the remaining one is scheduled to appear in court on September 3, 2026.

The Minister also highlighted an armed attack in Nyankpala, Tolon Constituency, where two prime suspects remain at large after shots were fired indiscriminately during an incident involving vote-buying allegations. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend these suspects. Military personnel involved in a 2024 general election incident were released to assist investigations, with five identified as having been involved.

In the 2020 voter registration mop-up exercise, ballistic investigations determined that the deceased died from a high-velocity single-projectile weapon, and one suspect is already facing trial while another remains at large. Similar investigations are ongoing in other constituencies, with some suspects already before the courts and others being pursued.

The Police Service is also pursuing 13 additional suspects identified as connected to these cases. Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak urged the public to assist the police with any information regarding the whereabouts of the wanted individuals, emphasizing that the government remains committed to bringing perpetrators of election-related violence to justice.