Ex-President John Dramani Mahama, has vowed to investigate incidents that led to the killing of eight innocent Ghanaians in Accra and other parts of the country during the 2020 general elections.
The heavily armed men, some of whom, were in both military and police uniforms, were unleashed on voters by the Nana Akufo-Addo government during the elections.
Some of the armed men were captured on videos shooting into a crowd at a collation center, demanding that Electoral Commission (EC) officials declare the right result.
Mr Mahama, who was a presidential candidate in that election on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and seeking another contest, has indicated that when he takes over power in 2025, he will ensure that people culpable for that heinous crime pay for it.
He also promised to provide their families with befitting compensation for their loss.
“The NDC has pledged that it will investigate these state-sponsored atrocities and apply sanctions to those found culpable. We will provide appropriate compensation for those who have lost lives and limbs.”
He said this to mark the second anniversary of their murder, which the Akufo-Addo government did not investigate.
Indeed, in the case of one of the murders, the family of the late Ibrahim Abass, accused one Collinson Quarcoo alias “Kola” of shooting and killing him at Ablekuma Central Constituency.
Abass’ family, further accused the state of seeking to shield the alleged perpetrator from facing justice.
The said Collinson Quarcoo was reported to be a bodyguard of the Director of Operations at the Jubilee House, Lord Commey and a National Security employee, who allegedly opened fire at the deceased Ibrahim Abass and four others, including a police officer and a journalist all of whom survived.
Collinson Quarcoo, was put before court a number of times over the murder, but nothing has since been heard from the state prosecutors.
Read the former President’s Statement Below
Two years ago, for the first time in the history of our country, a President and Government unleashed armed men who brutally killed eight (innocent Ghanaians including a child during voting and results collation.
In the last six years, Ghanaians have witnessed a reckless government that has taken a wrecking ball to our economy, leaving it in a very sorry state, rivalling some of the worst economies in the world.
Our dear beloved nation, Ghana, is in a worst state today than at any time in the history of the 4th Republic — high levels of corruption, hardships due to bad economic and financial policies, a hungry and angry people, loss of investments, no credible reforms etc.
But we are a strong people. We are creative and innovative. The Ghanaian does not give up and we won’t give up.
On behalf of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), myself as the 2020 Presidential Candidate, I want to thank all Ghanaians who two years ago sacrificed your time and went to the polls to vote for NDC’s Parliamentary candidates and I.
I also commend all Ghanaians who participated in the election exercise for their help in consolidating our democracy.
I, once again, extend our sympathies to the families of all who lost their lives and to the victims of all forms of violence perpetrated by the insensitive Nana Akufo-Addo administration.
The NDC has pledged that it will investigate these state-sponsored atrocities and apply sanctions to those found culpable. We will provide appropriate compensation for those who have lost lives and limb.
The Police, has since reacted, below is the statement they issued yesterday.
A Police delegation led by the Director-General Welfare, COP/Mrs. Habiba Twumasi-Sarpong on December 1, 2022 visited the families of the eight victims of the shooting incident at the Techiman South Constituency Collation Centre in which two people died and six were injured.
The delegation which included the DG/Intelligence, the Regional Commander/BER and the Director/Cold Case Unit once again commiserated with the families and shared with them the progress made so far in the investigations being conducted into the incident.
The delegation visited each of the eight families in their homes at Techiman and assured them of the resolve of the police to get to the bottom of each incident.
The families were told that even though investigations so far have not identified those responsible for the shooting incident, the police were determined to pursue the case for as long as it takes till the perpetrators are brought to book.
The case has therefore been referred to the newly established Cold Case Unit which is responsible for the continuous review, investigation and tracking of cases long after the trail might appear to have died and public interest had gone down.
The families were introduced to the Director of the unit who has since started working with them.
In support of the work of the ongoing investigations, a reward of a Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH₵ 100,000.00) has been set aside for any member of the public who can provide credible information that will lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
Since its establishment, the Cold Case Unit is revisiting all major unsolved cases recorded in the recent past and is working with the affected families.
The public will be kept updated as much as possible without compromising the investigations.
