A Civil Society Organisation, the Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-GH) has urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh to in the interest of Peace and Security ensure the killers of the late Silas Wulochamey are arrest to face the full rigors of the law.
In a press statement copied Awake News and signed by the Executive Director, Mr. Richard Kasu, “The intimidation, unprovoked attacks, killings, and violent brutalities at registration centres betrays government’s commitment to end political vigilantism in Ghana.”
If readers can recall the 28-year-old teacher trainee graduate, Silas Wulochamey was Monday, 13th July 2020, while returning from a visit to his pastor at Wenchi Methodist was attacked and stabbed leading to his untimely death.
The attack of the late Silas was linked to disturbances in the Banda Constituency with respect to the ongoing new voters’ registration exercise.
The incident Mr. Kasu described as unfortunate hence urging the security services to act to ensure Peace, during and before 2020 elections.
He has since urged political parties to “allow the state security agencies with responsibilities during the registration to undertake their duty without influence. Political parties should not incite their supporters to be violent but rather support the state institutions to do their work and channel complains and grievances to the appropriate quarters for redress.”
Read the full statement:
20/07/2020
PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
The intimidation, unprovoked attacks, killings, and violent brutalities at registration centres betrays government’s commitment to end political vigilantism in Ghana.
The Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-GH) has observed with deep worry the violent brutalities being meted out to citizens undertaking their civil duty of registering in the registration exercise currently ongoing.
Truth be told! The abuse of power, brazen acts of violence, impunity and dreaded vigilantism witnessed under the current regime leaves much to be desired. The frustrations and anxiety of most citizens as a result of the crude tactics being employed by state security operatives to ostensibly intimidate potential registrants cannot be allowed to continue. The harassments and unprovoked wicked attacks on innocent citizens does not only cast a slur on our democratic integrity but can erupt into civil unrest which will completely destroy our striving democracy.
The ARAB SPRING must at least guide the nation, Ghana.
For the avoidance of doubt, we will like to draw government’s attention to the very profound statements made in their 2016 Manifesto regarding good governance, peace and security.
Fast forward, on Page 39 of the manifesto, they stated that “the fundamental requirement for sustainable development is good governance. The NPP is irrevocably committed to the establishment of a solid, efficient machinery for good governance, comprising accountable government and respect for the rule of law and human rights” Also, on security it was clearly stated on page 43 that …“The NPP Government will secure peace and security for all Ghanaians. Under the NPP Government, Ghanaians will feel safe on the streets and in their homes. Ghanaians will go about their daily business in the secure knowledge that their persons, properties and lives are safe under an NPP Government. The NPP will ensure that our security personnel are also adequately prepared to deal with the emerging threats of terrorism and cybercrime, which will be another major priority of our government”.
If the above statements were NPP’s own words, and taking into account the current state of insecurity witnessed under the regime, then it simply implies they have woefully deviated from their own principles of safeguarding the safety of the citizenry. The insecurity situation in Ghana today clearly shows government is not doing much so far as state security is concerned and this is a great worry to majority of the Ghanaian people.
Of much concern to the CFF-GH is the recent killing of a 28 year-old graduate teacher trainee, Silas Wulochamey by unknown assailants at Banda in the Bono Region due to registration related issues creating serious tension in that part of the country. Why should a Ghanaian lose his precious life just because of voter registration exercise? This will therefore mean that Ghana is no longer safe for its citizens.
The peace and security of Ghana, a country touted as a beacon of democracy in Africa is continuously being threatened by partisan vigilantism, which rears its ugly head particularly during elections.
CFF-GH wishes to use this opportunity to remind the political parties that the peace and stability of this country is bigger than their ideologies and personal ambitions. The good people of Ghana have chosen a system of governance and a system of electing their leaders, characterized by fair, free and open elections and the best we can do is to unconditionally contribute our quota to its sustained growth.
As a Foundation advocating for integrity of our governance architecture, we recommend the following:
1. That the President of the Republic, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo in line with his 2016 manifesto should take decisive actions and ensuring that Ghana remains peaceful before, during and after the 2020 elections.
2. That the IGP must ensure killers of the teacher trainee, Mr. Silas Wulochamey are arrested and made to face the full rigours of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.
3. That political parties must allow the state security agencies with responsibilities during the registration to undertake their duty without influence. Political parties should not incite their supporters to be violent but rather support the state institutions to do their work and channel complains and grievances to the appropriate quarters for redress.
4. That state security institutions serve at the pleasure of the people. They should resist partisan influence and show themselves to be neutral, fair and committed to the colours of Ghana, and none other.
5. That CSOs, Media, Moral Society, Traditional Authorities among other stakeholders should be heard loudly on the current state of insecurity in Ghana and take collective action and right the ills of society for posterity will judge them if they sit aloof.
6. That the peace council should be proactive in its work and prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it is serving the interest of the Ghanaian people. The allegations of bias by some political actors is not good for its image and integrity.
Signed
Mr. Richard Kasu
(EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com