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General News of Saturday, February 16, 2019
Source: ghananewsagency.org
2019-02-16
play the videoJean Mensah, president of the electoral commission
Mrs. Jean Mensa, President of the Electoral Commission (EC), on Friday called on the country's political parties to eliminate vigilance.
"Our parties must end their vigilance and citizens must condemn it," said Ms. Mensa in her testimony before the Ayawaso West Wuogon Inquiry in Accra.
The Commission was created by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following the escalation of violence in La-Bawaleshie during the partial election of Ayawaso West Wuogon in order to conduct a broad investigation that would allow to maintain the peace of the country.
Ms Mensa indicated in her communication that, in the future, the EC would engage in much more public education, as well as with the security services before the elections.
"We will do a lot of public education and continue to engage with security to ensure peaceful elections," she said.
Ms. Mensa described as peaceful and transparent the holding of the partial election of the Parliament of Ayawaso West Wuogon of 31 January.
Responding to a question from Mr. Eric Osei-Mensah, counsel to the Ayawaso West Wuogon Inquiry Commission on the National Election Observers Coalition (CODEO), reporting that the election was characterized by the Strong presence of armed security forces, Ms. Mensa there was no armed security force in any of the 137 polling stations.
With regard to CODEO's report that a police officer in the Dzorwulu prison polling station was allegedly badaulted by a national security officer, Ms. Mensa stated that she had received information from election officers. in the field. adding that there were verbal exchanges between the two officers.
She noted that the shooting in the residence of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate in the by-election had prompted some people in the La-Bawaleshie area to shelter in the office. vote of the Presbyterian Primary School. At 140 meters.
She stated that it had stopped voting at the Center for about 45 minutes.
Professor Mensa-Bonsu urged the EC to draw lessons from the by-election of Ayawaso West Wuogon and also recalled that observers were on the ground and that they would report on the situation.
She said that in the future, there should be better coordination between the security forces in any election.
Deputy Police Commissioner (DCOP), George Alex Mensah, director of operations of the Ghana Police Service, and Deputy Superintendent of Police (ASP), George L. Asare, East Legon Police Commander, were also present .
DCOP Mensah said he did not hear about the masked gunmen who caused the violence in the by-election.
"I did not know who the masked men were. I will be surprised that they are part of the SWAT team (special weapons and tactics). This vehicle is not one of those under my command and the police have never used this vehicle before. "
He noted that during the elections, all security forces deployed to monitor were placed under the command of the police.
DSP Asare said that it was as a result of a phone call from the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander that there was violence in La-Bawaleshie that some of his men and him rushed to lend their support to put the situation under control.
The Commission is chaired by Mr Francis Emile Short, former Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
The other members of the Commission are Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, a prominent professor of criminal law and Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, former Inspector General of Police (IGP); with Dr. Ernest Kofi Abotsi, Private Lawyer and former Dean of GIMPA Law School, as Secretary.
The meeting is adjourned until Monday, February 18th.
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