Stop apologizing, publish the report of the Summary Commission – Minorities to the government

General News on Friday, May 31, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-05-31

The minority in Parliament reiterated its call on the government to publish without delay the report of the Justice Emile Short Commission on the violence at the partial election of Ayawaso West Wuogon.

The government rejected the minority group's request for the publication of the report to inform the development of an anti-vigilance law in Parliament, arguing that the president had six months or less to do so.

But according to Minority, the government's six-month argument is not consistent with what is written in the constitution.

Haruna Iddrisu, leader of the minority and a contributor to Eyewitness News, insisted that her caucus did nothing wrong with making her recommendations and conclusions known to the public interest, with the government then suggesting the Constitution.

"I heard the Minister of Information say [they have] Up & # 39; to [six months] publish the report. Article 278 of the constitution does not say "up to". It is said "in the bad" which can even last three, four days or a month or two. We are not wrong. There is a period during which an explanatory memorandum should be drawn up. What is convincing is that the Vigilantism Bill presented to Parliament in its explanatory memorandum refers to the report and findings of the Ayawaso West Commission on Violence. These conclusions and recommendations have not been made public in Ghana. How does this inform the legislation?

"The president created the commission with public resources. We have every right to know what has been established by the Emile Short Commission. As a minority, we demand that if President Akufo-Addo believes in accountability and transparency, he must make public the findings of the report on violence in the by-election of Ayawaso West Wuogon in accordance with Article 278 of the 1992 Constitution, "added Haruna Iddriu.

Nana Addo will not be in a hurry to release the report of the Commission – Oppong Nkrumah
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the president would not be required to release the Emile Short Commission report on the violence in the by-election of Ayawaso West Wuogon.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah of Citi News said ongoing processes are not affected by the fact that the commission's report has not been published.

Oppong Nkrumah also said that the publication of the report would have no impact on the drafting of the law.

"Why do we badume that without a public release of the Emile Short commission report, no one can contribute to the Vigilance Bill? It's a strange argument to make, "he said.

If a contribution from the report is needed, the minister said that the Ministry of the Interior could be kept informed of the report in order to facilitate the development of the law.

"He may be authorized by the chair to read and enlighten the discussions on the bill, regardless of the recommendations relevant to the bill we are adopting."