Urgent prohibition of self-defense groups – WANF

General News of Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-02-20

The West African Noble Forum (WANF), a non-governmental organization, joined the appeal to the government to urgently dissolve all self-defense groups.

"The speed at which these groups of activists are growing is very alarming and the vanity of their actions is very frightening.

Our nascent democracy is seriously threatened by these groups and the sooner we dissolve them, the better it will be for the protection of our democracy in danger, especially in the run-up to the 2020 elections, "said the president in a statement signed by its general chairman. , Reverend Dr. Paul Fynn.

Referring to the violence in the by-elections in Chereponi, Talensi, Atewa, he said Ghanaians had suffered too much violence in the by-elections.

"This trend should not continue because it quickly makes our highly acclaimed democracy a subject of mockery in the eyes of the international community, undermining the achievements and progress made since 1992," he said. he declared.

The forum's statement follows the January 31, 2019 by-election in the constituency of Ayawaso West Wuogon, where masked men wearing National Security Council uniforms fired at people in the perimeter of the polling station. Bawaleshie.

The government subsequently set up a three-person commission to investigate the case within a month.

Concerned

Commenting on the issue, the forum said that he was particularly concerned about the shooting incident in La-Bawaleshie that caused injuries to some people, information that masked men would march as Police officers and the withdrawal of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) competitions.

Compensation

"The government must also pay compensation to all victims, especially those who have suffered various forms of injury.

It is unfortunate that, in their quest to exercise their civic duty to vote, they have been repelled by acts that have no place in our 27-year-old democracy.

"The WANF finds aggression against a Parliament MP, Mr. Sam George, regrettable and an affront to law and order.

Whatever the circumstances that caused the aggression, we believe that our security personnel are trained to handle these issues more professionally, "he said.