President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on Ghana’s Police administration to reassess its approach to managing post-election violence.

In his final State of the Nation Address on January 3, the outgoing president criticised the response to the unrest that followed the December 7 elections, which were widely regarded as free and fair. Akufo-Addo argued that the violence, which erupted despite the early concession by New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, could have been handled more professionally.

“The outbreak of violence should be condemned,” Akufo-Addo said. “The assumption that the winning party could cause mayhem because the losing candidate had conceded defeat was unacceptable. It seemed, at one point, that the violence was overwhelming the police.”

He added that the police needed to quickly review their tactics for managing such incidents in future elections, though he acknowledged their role in overseeing the electoral process itself was commendable.

Akufo-Addo expressed hope that future elections would be free of violence and the tensions surrounding them. “I am optimistic that we will soon reach a point where elections are conducted smoothly and without unnecessary fuss,” he said.

The president also praised the work of the Electoral Commission, led by Jean Mensa, for efficiently overseeing the 2020 and 2024 elections despite challenges.

Source:TheDotNews