Former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Roland Affail Monney, has urged Ghanaians to confront the root causes of election-related violence rather than merely condemning incidents after they occur.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Mr. Monney said the nation’s response to electoral violence has often been superficial, focusing on “naming and shaming” instead of addressing the underlying desperation and political culture that fuel such acts.
“From the root and not the branch,” he said. “The branch approach is to condemn it, go to town, name and shame, and we go back and perpetrate the same evil. We need to take a microscopic look at what brings about all this violence — why are people so desperate?”
He expressed concern that every election cycle in Ghana turns the country into what he described as a “war zone,” with heightened tensions and tempers flaring among political actors and supporters.
“Every election year, the whole country virtually turns into a war zone. Tempers are high, tensions beyond the roof. The desire to win at all costs dominates everything,” Mr. Monney observed.
According to him, the root of the problem lies in the intense competition for political power and the perception of governance as a high-stakes venture. “Politicians invest bundles into elections. This tells you that being in government is the ultimate. So whatever it will take for you to be in government — be it fair or foul means — people are willing to do it,” he added.
Mr. Monney’s remarks come in the wake of renewed discussions on electoral violence following the Interior Ministry’s report linking deaths and injuries during the 2020 and 2024 general elections to the use of firearms by party supporters and security personnel.
He called for a national dialogue that goes beyond partisan blame, urging political leaders, civil society, and the media to spearhead a cultural shift toward peace, accountability, and ethical politics.