Mr. Sam Nartey George, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, has stated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-failure Addo’s to ensure justice for victims of the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence remains a major blot on his presidency.
Sam George, one of those physically assaulted on the day, described the events as barbaric.
That incident occurred exactly two years ago on January 31, 2021.
The Ningo-Prampram legislator stated on Facebook that he was accredited by the Electoral Commission (EC) to be there and should have been protected.
“Today, January 31, 2021, marks exactly two years since the tragic and horrific incidents that marked the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-elections.” I had only recently returned home.
The Ningo-Prampram legislator stated on Facebook that he was accredited by the Electoral Commission (EC) to be there and should have been protected.
“Today, January 31, 2021, marks exactly two years since the tragic and horrific incidents that marked the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-elections.” I had just returned home two years ago around this time.”
“The Party had assigned me the role of election monitor, and I had been accredited by the Electoral Commission.”
The barbaric actions of state security agents that resulted in the injury and maiming of innocent Ghanaians remain a major blot on Mr. Akuffo-presidency.” Addo’s
He did, however, assure the victims that justice would be served one day.
“Even after establishing a Commission and rejecting almost all of its findings in a white paper, the government has yet to pay compensation to the eight injured citizens.” None of the perpetrators have been brought to justice. Justice would be served, no matter how long it took.”
What happened?
Following a shooting incident at the polls, the NDC withdrew from the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.
Masked men were filmed beating up civilians who did not resist arrest. The men, fully armed were also seen in the company of some police officers.
Some of these men believed to be party vigilantes of the ruling NPP were seen in T-shirts with the inscription ‘NSC’ which translates as the National Security Council of which the President of the Republic heads.
The government subsequently set up a committee to probe the incident.
The Emile Short Commission of Inquiry was, among other things, mandated “to make a full, faithful and impartial inquiry into the circumstances of, and establish the facts leading to the events and associated violence that occurred during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.”
The Commission took testimonies of principal witnesses in the matter including the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George; the Commander of the National Security SWAT team, DSP Samuel Azugu; and the then NDC Parliamentary candidate, Delali Kwasi Brempong.
Over a three-week period, the Commission interviewed over 20 other witnesses and persons of interest.
Following its investigation, the committee presented its report to the President.
However, according to portions of the report, the government rejected some of the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations.
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Following its investigation, the committee presented its report to the President.
According to portions of the White Paper, the government rejected some of the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations.
According to the government, “the report failed to address the first and most critical of the Commission’s terms of reference.”
“Failure to do so prevents the government from accepting the commission’s findings in their entirety,” the White Paper stated.
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