Violence Wougon: "The Akufo-Addo Commission is a favorite star". – NDC

General News on Friday, February 8, 2019

Source: clbadfmonline.com

2019-02-08

The main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said that he could not trust the short Commission composed of three members, set up by President Nana Akufo-Addo, for investigate the violence of the partial election of Ayawaso West Wuogon and to do a neutral and impartial work the Commission are the "favorites" of the president.

Following the violence that marred the by-elections of Thursday, January 31, 2019, an inquiry commission was created, chaired by Judge Emile Short, former Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights and Human Rights. Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

Other members include Prof. Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, lawyer, and Patrick K. Acheampong, former PGI.

Mr. Ernest Kofi Abotsi, former Dean of the Faculty of Law of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), is also a private lawyer, Secretary of the Commission.

In response to the creation of the Commission, the NDC said in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, that: "The NDC takes note of the establishment of a Commission investigation in response to the local and international outcry that followed the scandalous scandal: aggression against democracy at the partial election in Ayawaso West Wuogon on January 31, 2019. It is encouraging to see that the power of the people has – for once, under the The current administration – outweighed the whims of the executive.However, we remain skeptical as to the seriousness with which justice will be done under the mandate of an Emile Short Commission.

"Many had hoped that the President's response to the people's demands would have recognized the omnipresent expectation of a neutral membership. Instead, we are presented with a Commission consisting of a list of former members of former NPP administrations, some of whom are in conflict through their intimate relationships with practicing Cabinet members. The Chair must take note that the appearance of political bias in a case such as this has the same effect on public confidence as its actuality. This concern is reiterated by the established record of presidential interference in similar investigations and by subsequent resolution of even the most obvious breaches of public confidence.

"We will maintain our vigilance in favor of the people of Ghana and their Republic, and we will insist that we already have enough evidence to prosecute chaos officials. We will not participate in any attempt to obscure the pursuit of justice by introducing irrelevant and irrelevant cases for equalization purposes, or by abusing the inherent immunities granted under Chapter 23 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana to protect offenders criminal proceedings. .

"The public facts of the case point to criminal aggression and a flagrant violation of the civil rights of innocent citizens; a subsequent attempt by senior officials to deceive the Ghanaian people; and a concerted attempt to justify and conceal atrocities. This is not a simple guess. Our position is based on the public statements of the Minister of State for National Security, the Hon. Bryan Acheampong, who explicitly admitted the use of armed thugs under the facade of the National Security Council. The men were filmed by several news outlets arriving in Ghanaian police vehicles and escorting them. This implies, at the very least, co-opting by the State Minister for National Security of police personnel and equipment. Worse still, it highlights the complicity of the Inspector General of Police and senior police in Ghana in this flagrant violation of the rights of Ghanaian citizens. "

The statement adds: "It should be noted that the events on which the investigation is to be based are clearly different from past incidents observed in previous by-elections. This is not about vigilance. Acts of overzealous rogue elements committed by one or the other party in the past can not be equated with confessions of the Hon. Bryan Acheampong, who returns to use state terrorism as a tool of political advantage.

"In any case, President Akufo-Addo has already prejudged the incident as" isolated ", as he had the outcome of the Commission. There is no way for this Commission of its favorites to draw conclusions that contradict its earlier statements. The President has not seen fit to request the resignation of the State Minister for National Security or the Inspector General of Police. They remain in office and are clearly engaged in a concealment operation involving the transfer of senior police investigators and the deliberate obscuring of the identity and location of the perpetrators of the Ayawaso violence. January 31st.

"The position of the NDC is very simple. This committee of Emile Short is a non-runner on the basis of its composition, its obvious political color and the antecedents of the president. We will not be deterred by the pursuit of justice outside the Commission. "

However, speaking on behalf of the Commission at a brief swearing-in ceremony at Jubilee House on Friday, February 8, 2019, Judge Short stated that the Commission would be impartial in its work.

"On behalf of the members of the Commission and the Executive Secretary, we wish to express our gratitude and gratitude to Her Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and to you [Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia] to give us this opportunity to serve the nation.

"We consider that it is an extremely important task. I would also like to express my gratitude for the words of trust you expressed to us, particularly for your statement that we were chosen because we are considered honest men and women. We will want to badure everyone that we will carry out our mandate in a transparent, objective and fair manner, and I will urge everyone to give us all the support we need to find a credible and sustainable solution to the phenomenon. electoral violence and self-defense groups ".

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who sworn in members of the Commission, described them as people whose "irreproachable integrity" can not be doubted, and said he was confident that he was "in no doubt". they will do a fair job.