President-elect John Dramani Mahama has pledged to investigate the election-related deaths reported during the 2024 general elections if the outgoing government fails to act.
The elections, while largely peaceful, were marred by incidents of violence in some regions, resulting in at least three deaths and multiple injuries.
Mahama made this commitment during a courtesy visit by the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly.
During their discussions, Mahama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to justice and transparency, as well as strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with the EU.
“I am happy about the smooth, successful election we had; unfortunately, there were a few incidents that led to death. I intend to investigate what led to the death; people are culpable, and they need to pay the price for what they have done,” Mahama stated. He added, “I hope this government investigates those incidents, but if they don’t, we will do it when we come to office.”
Mahama highlighted the importance of Ghana’s relationship with the EU, particularly in light of the country’s ongoing economic challenges. He expressed his eagerness to engage the EU early to realign cooperation frameworks to fit his administration’s priorities.
“A lot of foreign investment that comes to our country comes from the EU, and we want to deepen that, especially in this economic crisis, which we find ourselves in, where we are shut down from the international capital market,” he noted.
Ambassador Razaaly congratulated Mahama and commended the historic appointment of Ghana’s first female Vice President-elect. “Congratulations to you and your running mate for being the first female to hold this position as a vice president, and we need to acknowledge this move, organisation, and the conduct of the election,” Razaaly said.
The Electoral Commission (EC) officially declared Mahama the winner of the 2024 presidential elections on December 9. He secured 6,328,397 votes, representing 56.55% of valid votes cast, defeating his closest rival, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who garnered 4,657,304 votes, representing 41.61%.
With his inauguration scheduled for January 7, 2025, Mahama’s administration is expected to focus on addressing the country’s economic challenges, fostering justice, and bolstering international relations.