We will not prevent our members from testifying before Emile Short C'ssion – NDC

General News of Friday, February 15, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-02-15

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) relaxed its position on the commission of inquiry to investigate the partial election of Ayawaso West Wuogon.

The opposition party said it would not prevent its members, who were attacked in the by-election, from participating in the commission's activities.

The Commission announced that it would invite some people from the NDC despite their boycott of the process.

Peter Boamah Otukunor, Deputy Secretary General of the NDC, told Citi News that the party was still going to look for other ways to get justice, as a result of the confusion surrounding the by-election.

"Even if we will not participate in the activities of the commission, we will pursue the action of justice for the victims of the attack, but we will not prevent any victim from appearing before the commission, that 39, whether she is a member of the CDN or not. or not."

The NDC and the minority caucus in Parliament have expressed concern that the commission's meetings are an attempt to protect the perpetrators from the brutality observed in the by-election.

The party maintains that the incident requested prosecution for security personnel filmed in camera and involved in the violence.

The NDC expressed distrust of the commission in an earlier statement.

"… The NDC is also aware that the creation of the commission of inquiry is the government's attempt to protect its party's thugs from criminal liability. The Government badumes that the constitution of an inquiry commission exempts these criminal elements from criminal prosecution as a result of the decision of the High Court in the Ghana @ 50 case. "

"… We do not need a full investigation commission to identify the people involved in this illegal and unconstitutional operation," the statement said.

Former President John Mahama also questioned the essence of the commission, saying the case was purely criminal.

"We all know what happens when boards of inquiry are created. The main purpose of a commission of inquiry is to bring out the facts and put in place measures to prevent such a thing from happening again, but it is not the most convenient way to sanction behavior criminal. "

Sam George, a minority MP, was badaulted by several National Security personnel during the incident.

The NDC was forced to withdraw from the elections and said the confusion during the by-election was state-sponsored violence.

Public hearings in progress

The inquiry commission held its first public hearing on Thursday at Christiansborg Castle in Osu, Accra.

Public hearings are open to the public from 10:00 am The Commission also urged members of the public who wish to submit information, statements or any other relevant document to do so through their secretariat.

The commission on Thursday welcomed three people appointed to national security. State Minister for National Security Bryan Acheampong, Minister of National Security Albert Kan Dapaah, and Interior Minister Ambrose Dery.

The chairman of the Commission is Judge Emile Short.

It is chaired by the Dean of GIMPA Law School and a private lawyer, Ernest Kofi Abotsi.

Henrietta Mensah Bonsu and Patrick K. Acheampong have also been appointed members of the Commission.

The commission has one month to complete its work.