Emile Short Commission opens investigation into violence today

General News of Monday, February 11, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-02-11

The commission of Judge Emile Short to reveal the circumstances surrounding the conflict in Ayawaso West Wuogon by electoral violence begins its work on Monday.

Created last week by the Presidency, the Commission should identify those responsible for the violence and recommend sanctions, where appropriate.

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia was sworn in before the three-member commission at a short ceremony last Friday.

Dr. Bawumia welcomed the composition of the commission, noting: "I do not know anyone who can really question the integrity of the commission."

The commission is chaired by Judge Emile Short, former Commissioner of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). It is composed of Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Professor of Law, and Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, former director of the IGP.

Ernest Kofi Abotsi is Secretary of the Commission.

The mandate of the Commission includes:

– Conduct an exhaustive, faithful and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the disaster and establish the facts behind the events and related acts of violence that occurred during the by-election. Ayawaso West Wuogon;

– Identify anyone responsible or involved in the events, violence and related injuries;

– investigate any matter that it considers incidental or reasonably related to the causes of the events and the resulting violence and injury;

– Submit his report to the President within one month, indicating the reasons for his conclusions and recommendations, including appropriate sanctions.

concerns

Shortly after his constitution, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) kicked him, describing him as a non-starter.

The party's general secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, insists that the police should rather investigate the incident.

Civil society members also voiced concerns that the Commission's work may be minimal, as the law prohibits witnesses appearing before such bodies from being prosecuted on their own evidence.

Meanwhile, commission secretary Ernest Kofi Abotsi, the efforts of the Commission will not be in vain, as it begins to uncover the circumstances of the shooting.

Shooting Incident

Six people were shot and wounded when members of the National Security apparatus stormed a polling station in La Bawaleshie during the partial election of Ayawaso West Wuogon. .

It is unclear what motivated the shooting of the firearms, but the police also opened its own investigation into the incident.