In a swift response to escalating electoral-related violence, the Ghana Police Service has apprehended 12 individuals suspected of involvement in the destruction of the Electoral Commission (EC) office in Damongo and other acts of vandalism across the country.
The arrests stem from an incident in the Damongo Municipal Constituency, where irate youth, frustrated by delays in announcing election results, set the EC office ablaze. The inferno, which eyewitnesses described as fast-spreading, reduced the building and its contents to ashes, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
According to the Director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the suspects are believed to have engaged in multiple offenses targeting state assets during and after the elections.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects not only torched the EC office in Damongo, Savannah Region, but also caused damage to residences of district chief executives in various locations. Additionally, they vandalized some collation centers and looted a school feeding program warehouse in Tamale, making away with food supplies,” ACP Ansah-Akrofi disclosed.
The police have secured video footage capturing the acts of violence, vandalism, and looting, which is currently being analyzed to identify additional culprits.
ACP Ansah-Akrofi assured the public of the police’s commitment to restoring order and bringing perpetrators to justice. “Officers have been deployed to strategic locations, with intensified patrols underway to maintain peace. We urge the public to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement during this period.”
This crackdown on electoral violence underscores the Ghana Police Service’s zero-tolerance approach to acts that threaten the country’s democratic process and public safety. Authorities are calling on community members to provide any information that may aid ongoing investigations.
