Accra: The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has condemned the incidents and acts of hooliganism and vandalism reported across the country in the aftermath of the December 7, 2024, general election.

According to Ghana News Agency, CDD-Ghana in a statement criticized the storming, raiding, and occupation of public facilities and offices, as well as the ejection and threatened ejection of public officials from their offices or official residences. These occurrences have taken place since the reins of government transitioned from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on January 7, 2025.

CDD-Ghana acknowledged that a similar pattern of post-election disorder and violence has characterized previous turnover elections during the Fourth Republic. However, it emphasized that this regrettable fact cannot excuse or justify the latest spate of post-election violence.

The Center expressed concern that unchecked partisan hooliganism could undermine the efforts to mitigate the winner-takes-all politics and threaten the peace and stability of Ghana. Therefore, it urged law enforcement authorities to apply the laws of Ghana firmly to combat this growing tendency.

Additionally, CDD-Ghana called on the newly installed Government of President John Dramani Mahama to send a clear message to all Ghanaians that this disturbing trend in electoral politics would no longer be tolerated. The Center emphasized that the government should not hinder law enforcement from dealing lawfully with those involved in post-election hooliganism and vandalism.

The statement recalled previous efforts to combat politically aligned vigilantes, culminating in the Vigilantism and Related Offences Act (2019), which helped mitigate dangerous tendencies in electoral politics. CDD-Ghana proposed that post-election partisan hooliganism attract enhanced criminal penalties similar to those in the Vigilantism Act.

Furthermore, the Center suggested that future Transition Teams prioritize addressing and containing post-election violence and hooliganism as a critical component of the transition process. The recent elections demonstrate Ghana's progress in building a stable democratic order, reflecting steady progress since 1992.

CDD-Ghana concluded by urging continued efforts to ensure that elections and their aftermath are free of violence and harm to life, limb, and property.