The Bono regional Minister Evelyn Kumi has dismissed claims that military officials have been deployed to the region to prevent some ethnic groups from registering in the ongoing voter’s registration exercise.
It comes after a viral video in which some military officials were seen asking people in queues to register questions sparking anger from a local chief in the community. Former President Mahama in reaction to the video said the government was preventing Ewes and other minority groups from registering.
Commenting on the development on the Morning Starr Monday, the minister said the soldiers are in the community following a peace accord signed between the NDC and NPP parliamentary candidates in the constituency.
“The soldiers there are not preventing anyone from registering. What they are saying is that they’ll not allow people bused to cross the barrier. And that if you are from Banda, walk to the registration center and register. I haven’t received any information that some men dressed in military attire are harassing residents and preventing them from registering but if such people are seen there, I trust the police to do their work,” he told sit-in host Lantam Papanko.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has in a statement rejected claims of ethnic targeting in its military deployment to the Banda District in the Bono Region.
“The Military wishes to state that on 30th July 2020, the Bono Regional Security Council met representatives of the two main political parties – NPP and NDC – to deliberate on the peaceful conduct of the registration exercise. This was in the wake of the disturbances that resulted in the unfortunate demise of one person.”
“The Agreement signed by Mr. Joe Danquah (NPP) and Hon Ahmed Ibrahim (NDC MP – Banda) and witnessed by the Hon Regional Minister stated as follows: ‘We the undersigned agreed today to maintain peace in the Banda District during the remaining days of the voters’ registration exercise and after, until the end of the 2020 General Elections in December 2020,” the statement added.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
