Introduction: Ghana's Democratic Mirage: When Optimism Becomes a Liability The December 2024 elections mark Ghana's ninth attempt at democratic polls since returning to multiparty politics in 1992, a point Major General Richard Gyane, the Commandant, underscored in his opening remarks.
Kwaku Danso, PhD, the moderator, stressed that Ghana's elections during its Fourth Republic since 1992 have experienced violence.
While the nation proudly touts its reputation for peaceful transitions, this narrative masks a disturbing reality: escalating electoral violence that threatens to unravel decades of democratic progress.
The death of eight citizens during the 2020 elections-the deadliest in Ghana's post-independence history-stands as a stark warning that optimistic rhetoric alone cannot safeguard democracy.