Keep political actors out of police affairs to tackle electoral violence — Asah-Asante

Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, a Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has urged political actors to refrain from meddling in police matters to allow the Ghana Police Service to effectively combat electoral violence and political vigilantism. According to Dr Asah-Asante, political interference has undermined the police's capacity to address groups whose activities endanger Ghana's electoral process.

Speaking on the AM Show on JoyNews via Zoom, the lecturer noted that political parties have historically utilized vigilante groups to further their agendas, especially during elections. He emphasized that electoral violence in Ghana has shifted from incidents like ballot-box snatching to more organized forms of vigilante actions.

Dr Asah-Asante highlighted that the issue is exacerbated by the tendency to focus solely on electoral violence leading up to elections. He expressed concern over the absence of sufficiently severe penalties for those involved in electoral violence and related activities. Dr Asah-Asante appealed to political leaders to permit the police to operate independently, free from political interference, emphasizing that peace can only be ensured if the police are allowed to function without such constraints.

He stressed the importance of reforms to bolster the police's independence as part of the solution. Dr Asah-Asante suggested that the appointment of the head of the police service should be overseen by a neutral body to foster public trust in the institution. He praised the police for maintaining their duties despite the challenges but argued that greater autonomy would empower the service to handle electoral offenders more effectively.

The lecturer also called on political parties and their supporters to present elections as a contest of ideas, policies, and achievements rather than resorting to intimidation and violence. He urged political leaders to take responsibility for fostering an environment where voters can participate in elections without fear. Dr Asah-Asante stressed that electoral security is paramount to the credibility of Ghana's democratic process, warning that persistent electoral violence could erode public confidence in democratic institutions.

He urged political actors to concentrate on their policies and records when seeking votes instead of relying on vigilante groups whose actions could jeopardize peace and democratic stability.