Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has fiercely criticized the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, following a report on fatalities during the 2024 General Elections. Speaking on Monday, February 16, 2026, Nketia dismissed the official report as "partial and protective," accusing the government of shielding individuals responsible for the deaths of citizens during the polls. The chairman demanded immediate and full transparency, asserting that the current report fails to provide justice for the victims and their families.
This heated dispute comes as the Government of Ghana faces increasing pressure to conclude its long-standing investigation into electoral violence. While the Ministry of the Interior previously revealed that approximately 15 deaths and 40 injuries were recorded across the 2020 and 2024 elections combined, the NDC leadership maintains that these figures are sanitized to protect security personnel and pro-government actors.
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| Johnson Asiedu Nketia |
Tension Between Asiedu Nketia and the Interior Minister
The clash between the NDC Chairman and the Interior Minister highlights the deep political divide surrounding the aftermath of the 2024 Ghanaian general election. Johnson Asiedu Nketia argued that the Ministry's latest findings intentionally omit critical details about specific incidents where state-sanctioned force was allegedly used against peaceful voters.
Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, currently on a working visit to Türkiye to discuss bilateral security, has stood by the findings. The Ministry of the Interior maintains that the report was based on a comprehensive review by the Ghana Police Service and other relevant security agencies to ensure an objective account of the unrest in hotspots like the Ahafo Ano North and Awutu Senya East constituencies.
Parliament of Ghana to Review Fatality Claims
The Parliament of Ghana is expected to be the next battleground for this dispute, as the Minority Caucus prepares to summon the Interior Minister for a formal briefing. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has already indicated that the opposition will not accept any report that lacks a "victim-centered" approach to compensation and accountability.
During previous committee meetings, members of the Parliament of Ghana have noted that the credibility of the nation's democratic institutions rests on a transparent resolution to these violence claims. The National Democratic Congress has signaled that it will conduct its own independent audit of the fatalities if the state report is not revised to include the testimonies of the victims' families.
Context: The Legacy of 2024 Election Violence
The 2024 General Elections were marked by both a landmark victory for President John Dramani Mahama and significant post-election unrest in several regions. While the Electoral Commission of Ghana declared the process largely successful, the National Peace Council flagged over 40 flashpoints where violence disrupted the counting process.
President John Dramani Mahama has previously pledged to implement the findings of the "Election-Related Violence Probe Report" and provide compensation to affected citizens. However, the current disagreement over the report's accuracy threatens to stall the distribution of these funds, as the National Democratic Congress chairman claims that "protecting the killers" has become a higher priority for some state officials than seeking truth.
What Happens Next for the Fatality Investigation
The Attorney-General’s Department is currently reviewing the investigative report to determine if there is sufficient evidence to hold individuals culpable for the deaths. The Ministry of the Interior is also expected to release a detailed compensation framework by March 2026, which will be subject to approval by the Parliament of Ghana.
Public pressure is mounting for the government to release the full, unedited report to clear the air. If the National Democratic Congress continues to reject the findings, the issue could lead to widespread protests similar to those seen in late 2024, potentially affecting the country’s reputation for democratic stability in the West African sub-region.
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| Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka |
Summary of the Asiedu Nketia Fatality Claim Dispute
The ongoing conflict between Johnson Asiedu Nketia and the Government of Ghana over the 2024 election fatality claims underscores a critical lack of trust in official security reports. As the National Democratic Congress demands a more transparent accounting of the deaths, the Parliament of Ghana remains the primary avenue for resolving these conflicting narratives and securing justice for the victims.
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