The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Against Political Vigilantism is calling on government to ensure plausible,transparent and violence free elections.
According to a press statement from their camp, rampant incidences of ‘savagery’ seen during this political era is due to sullen silence of the sitting president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on constituent violence that happened under his administration which seems to infer his consent of the deeds of the political vigilante activities in the country.
“The coalition of CSOs Against Political Vigilantism has undoubtedly noted that the most prevalent violation that is giving rise to the tensed political atmosphere largely stem from the deafening silence of the sitting president Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo on electoral violence that occurred under his regime which apparently sought to endorse or establish his tacit approval of the actions and inactions of the political vigilante activities in the country”.
The group says, “It will be recalled that on 31st January, 2019, there was extreme violent attacks on innocent Ghanaians by masked and uniformed personnel of the national security resulting in several casualties during the ayawaso west wuogon bye-elections”.
“A commission of enquiry was constructed and chaired by former Justice Emile short to investigate the Ayawaso violence. The commission came out with very laudable recommendations; some of which are;
Criminal prosecution of Mr. Ernest Akomea alias “Double” for the unauthorized possession of fire arms under section 192 (1) of the criminal offence Act, ‘they stated.
“The president’s white paper responded that the gentleman’s behavior has been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service for further investigation but till now there is no known outcome on that investigation, ‘the statement read.
The coalition noted that government’s failure to implement the recommendations of the Emile Short Commission to punish the doers of such crime against the innocent electorates and continued to walk shoulders high would “thereby emboldening and motivating the perpetrators of these brutalities to do more”.
The group also wants vigilantes to step aside and allow the “state security agencies assume responsibilities during this election so as to undertake their duties without any trace of influence”.
The Coalition further stated that, they are disheartened in the ruling government for his quietness with regards to fighting and disbanding political vigilantism.
“The coalition of CSO’s against political vigilantism is disappointed in the loud silence of the President towards fighting and disbanding political vigilantism”.
They are therefore calling on the government “as a matter of urgency, speak to the nation with a firm assurance of superintending not only credible and transparent elections but also violence free elections”.
Read full statement below:
PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS (CSO’S) AGAINST POLITICAL VIGILANTISM ON VIOLENCE, VIGILANTISM AND HEIGHTENING TENSION BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER DECEMBER 7TH ELECTION – THE PRESIDENT MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE
ON 2ND DECEMBER, 2020.
Friends of the media, ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to welcome you to today’s press briefing.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, the issue of vigilantism and violence during elections in recent times in Ghana needs a holistic attention to guard the peace, security and the status of beacon of democracy in Africa the country is touted to be.
Ghana has enjoyed uninterrupted governance since the country returned to constitutional rule in 1992. The nation has had seven successive presidential and parliamentary elections resulting in three peaceful handovers from one political party to another i.e 2001, 2009 and 2017.
However none of these elections have seen proceeding incidences of violence and heightening tension as we are witnessing prior to this year’s impending presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7th.
The coalition of CSOs Against Political Vigilantism has undoubtedly noted that the most prevalent violation that is giving rise to the tensed political atmosphere largely stem from the deafening silence of the sitting president Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo on electoral violence that occurred under his regime which apparently sought to endorse or establish his tacit approval of the actions and inactions of the political vigilante activities in the country.
AYAWASO WEST WUOGON BRUTALITIES AND NEGLECT OF CASUALTIES
Ladies and gentlemen, it will be recalled that on 31st January, 2019, there was extreme violent attacks on innocent Ghanaians by masked and uniformed personnel of the national security resulting in several casualties during the ayawaso west wuogon bye-elections. The brazen acts of violence perpetrated against law abiding citizens were generally condemned by well-meaning Ghanaians and the international community.
A commission of enquiry was constructed and chaired by former Justice Emile short to investigate the Ayawaso violence. The commission came out with very laudable recommendations; some of which are;
Criminal prosecution of Mr. Ernest Akomea alias “Double” for the unauthorized possession of fire arms under section 192 (1) of the criminal offences Act.
The president’s white paper responded that the gentleman’s behavior has been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service for further investigation but till now there is no known outcome on that investigation
The commission recommends the criminal prosecution for the offence of assault, to wit, the slapping of Mr. Samuel George by Mohammed Sulemana.
Again the president white washed the recommendation and endorsed the act by Mohammed Sulemana that the slap was as a result of a valid defense of provocation.
Fast forward on related issue, just yesterday the 1st of December 2020, a uninformed military man was publicly molested and beaten mercilessly in a traffic at Ashaiman roundabout on grounds of provocation by so called National Security Operatives. Slaps on a member of Parliament to beating a uniformed military officer. Where are we heading to as a country?
Again, the commission also recommends the immediate removal of DSP Samuel Kojo Azugu from the command responsibility at the Ministry of National Security given the failure to appropriately command and control the SWAT team.
The white paper referred the recommendation to the IGP and that ends it, no action has been taken till today.
Furthermore, the commission recommended that “Colonel Mike Opoku be reprimanded for being untimely responsible for the outcome of the SWAT operation at the LA Bawaleshie School polling station. His liability is further reinforced by his failure to properly define the mission for which the SWAT team was sent and ensuring that the SWAT team complied with the defined mission. Further, he failed to conduct an internal inquiry into identifying the culprits of the offence when revelations became rife that there were operational lapses resulting in violations of human rights. ”
Again the white paper rejects the commission’s recommendation on the basis that the commission failed to establish factual basis for the said recommendation.
The commission recommends the payment of financial compensation to the following persons on the basis of injuries sustained by them arising out of the reckless gunshots by the SWAT team. The people are; a.Theophilus Sedofu
b. Seidu Zaneh
c. James Moore
d. Mohammed Alhassan
e. Ishawu Yaro
Also compensation to the following persons for damage caused to their vehicles and properties
Owner of vehicle with registration number GE 3844 – 17
Owner of KIA Picanto vehicle with registration number GN 1045 – 17
Mrs. Justine Tse, Owner of Beauty Salon.
Almost two years down the line, absolutely no compensations have been given to any of these individuals. They have been totally neglected, thereby emboldening and motivating the perpetrators of these brutalities to do more.
ABUSE OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ZERO PROSECUTION ELECTORAL VIOLENCE
Friends of the media, ladies and gentlemen, the coalition is highly disappointed in the president who is touted to be an apostle of rule of law, to have superintend the abuse of legal framework that insulate the sanity of the country’s electoral activities.
The legal frameworks neglected by the president and not been used to prosecute are;
The Constitution
The Electoral Commission Act
The Citizenship Act
Representation of the People’s Act, 1992 (PNDCL 284)
Public Election (Registration of Voters)
Regulations, 2016 (C.I 91)
Public Election (Registration of Voters)
(Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (C.I 126)
Political Parties Act 2000 (Act 574)
Vigilante Act 2019 (Act 999)
Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29)
In all the laws above, there are both administrative and criminal sanctions provided in the event of any electoral violation. The focus of prosecution by these Acts is the criminal offences that persons may commit in any election related activity, yet all these have been neglected in the fight against political vigilantism.
The Attorney-General’s appointed by the president is mandated by the Constitution to undertake the prosecution of all criminal offences including electoral offences. So the question is who and what has prevented the A-G from prosecuting at least one person for violating the laws.
Similarly, the Attorney General also mandates the police led by the IGP to prosecute some cases on its behalf. The successful prosecution of electoral offences is contingent on effective Police investigation and gathering of the needed evidence for successful prosecution. So once again what has prevented the IGP all this while to trigger the prosecution of hoodlums in our electoral activities. Is it the case that there has not been any investigations? Or is there any unseen hands preventing the IGP and his officers from carrying out their duties? These and many other questions are the reasons we are laying the blame squarely at the doorsteps of the president. Just yesterday, a military man was publicly molested and beaten mercilessly at Ashaiman roundabout traffic
Friends of the media, the good people of Ghana have chosen a system of governance and a system of electing their leaders characterized by free, fair, transparent and generally violence free elections without any intimidations. Vigilantes have no place in our electoral set-up. The state security agencies must be allowed to assume responsibilities during this election so as to undertake their duties without any trace of influence.
The coalition of CSO’s against political vigilantism is disappointed in the loud silence of the President towards fighting and disbanding political vigilantism. We are calling on the President as a matter of urgency, speak to the nation with a firm assurance of superintending not only credible and transparent elections but also violence free elections.
The elections on the 7th of December (next week), must be free, fair, orderly, transparent and violent free to avert the ignition of any vigilante activities across the country.
Thank you for coming and God bless our homeland Ghana.
By: Nana Araba Bedu-Addo / awakenewsroom.com