Mahama statement is “playing politics” with post-election violence – Tutu-Boahene

The political marketing consultant Bernard Tutu-Boahene has expressed concern about the statement by President-elect John Dramani Mahama on vandalism and the looting of public institutions following the 7 December general election, describing Mahama as “playing politics” with the situation.

In a statement broadcast on Tuesday night (10 December 2024), President-elect Mahama condemned the violent and unlawful takeovers of state institutions. He also called on the current government and security forces to act quickly to curb the law-breaking.

Although on Monday (9 December) the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) declared him the winner of this year’s presidential election, he insisted that the existing state apparatus should stop the troublemakers.

“Because state power is still in the hands of the present administration, I call on the president and the security agencies to act decisively to curb the ongoing acts of lawlessness immediately,” Mahama said.

“I’ve received reports of attacks on state offices and installations. While it’s unclear who is behind these attacks, I condemn them in no uncertain terms. These acts must cease immediately,” Mahama said.

The president-elect also urged young Ghanaians to direct their frustration into constructive endeavours, rather than resort to criminal activity.

“As I said during my post-declaration speech, I urge the youth not to vent their frustration in criminal enterprise [sic]. Instead, they must channel their anger and frustration into the positive enterprise of resetting and rebuilding our beloved nation,” he urged.

Missed opportunity

However, speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (10 December), Dr Tutu-Boahene argued that although President-elect Mahama’s statement met a vital need, it could have been more comprehensive. He said the president-elect missed an opportunity to address the broader challenge of violence affecting property, both public and private.

“I feel that … it is a statement that was needed, but … if the statement was directed specifically at supporters not attacking government institutions, it would have been more reasonable,” Dr Tutu-Boahene told the ABS.

“He could have gone a step further also to condemn attacks on private property and individuals, and emphasised that anyone involved in such acts should be arrested and prosecuted immediately.“

Dr Tutu-Boahene also highlighted the role of politics in managing communications but argued that the present situation calls for stronger constitutional measures to address such issues.

“These are things that demonstrate that we have democratic flaws,“ he said.

“Democracy is based on the behaviour of people, so if the behaviour of people within our democratic environment is questionable and unacceptable, then we clearly do not have strong institutions to support a healthy democracy.

“This also brings me to the need for institutions of state to be separated from political cleavages,” Dr Tutu-Boahene said.

His remarks highlight concerns about the ongoing political violence in the country and the need for robust measures to strengthen democratic institutions.

Tensions

Tension remains high across various parts of Ghana as young supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) continue their attacks, days after the EC declared the result of the 2024 presidential election.

The violence, which began immediately after Dr Bawumia conceded defeat on Sunday (8 December), has been marked by a series of physical attacks, mainly targeting state institutions, and looting of property owned by individuals and the state.

News reports say that irate youth, suspected to be members of the NDC, stormed the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) yesterday as well as the head office of Ghana National Gas Company Ltd (GNGCL) in the Airport Residential Area of Accra, allegedly to demand that they take over both state agencies.

Another group of irate youth besieged the head office of the Local Government Service in Accra, demanding an account of assets held by the institution and ordering that staff must report to them from now on.

In the Greater Accra Region alone, at least four municipal assembly offices have been attacked, the head of the Local Government Service, Nana Ato Arthur, told Asaase News.

Isabella Agyakwa for Asaase News in Accra

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