A youth group in Nyankpala, Ghana, has expressed concerns over the slow pace of investigations into election violence that occurred on December 7, 2024. The incident resulted in the death of Shaibu Haruna, popularly known as Alhaji, and left several others injured. The group, Concerned NDC Youth in the Nyankpala Zone, submitted a petition to state authorities, citing worries about the preservation of evidence and the availability of witnesses nearly two years after the incident.
The petitioners acknowledged that the Ghana Police Service has indicated that investigations are ongoing, with engagements between authorities and stakeholders since the incident. However, they stressed that the pace of the investigation is a major concern. The group believes that the investigation should receive the necessary attention and resources to enable investigators to pursue credible leads and establish the facts of the matter.
At a news conference, Alhassan Alhassan, Spokesperson for the Concerned NDC Youth in the Nyankpala Zone, drew attention to a Government Accountability Series briefing held on August 24, 2026. During the briefing, the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, addressed efforts to locate suspects connected to the case. The spokesperson raised concerns that the description of a suspect provided during the briefing may not correspond with available information.
The youth group has requested seven actions from the authorities, including expediting the investigation, providing investigators with necessary support, and reviewing the suspect's description from the August briefing. They also requested that the authorities provide appropriate updates to the affected family while protecting sensitive information, protect witnesses from intimidation or retaliation, act on credible evidence, and respond to the petition in writing within 30 days.
The petition was addressed to the President, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ghana Police Service, the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, and other relevant institutions. The Tolon District Chief Executive was also requested to transmit the petition to the appropriate authorities. The group emphasized that they are not seeking to interfere with investigators or the courts but are demanding a credible process that establishes the facts.
The Concerned NDC Youth in the Nyankpala Zone stressed that what the affected family and the community need is a credible process that establishes the facts. They urged the authorities to pursue the investigation with urgency, professionalism, and fairness, and ensure that any person suspected of involvement is dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.
The youth group's petition is the latest development in the case, which has garnered attention from various stakeholders, including civil society organizations and government officials. The incident is part of a broader concern about election violence in Ghana, with calls for swift action to bring perpetrators to justice and prevent future occurrences.
Key points
- The youth group has requested seven actions from the authorities to expedite the investigation into the 2024 Nyankpala election violence.
- The petitioners are concerned about the slow pace of investigations and the preservation of evidence nearly two years after the incident.
- The incident resulted in the death of one person and injured several others, highlighting the need for a credible and swift investigation.
