The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the Ghana Police Service of complicity in the violent attacks that marred the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun elections held on Friday, July 11.
In a strongly worded statement, the Minority condemned what it described as acts of lawlessness and violence allegedly perpetrated by thugs affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC). They claimed that these incidents were carried out under the watch of police officers who failed to intervene.
“The apparent complicity of the Ghana Police Service, which stood by unconcerned as these party thugs carried out their disruptive and violent acts, is particularly egregious,” the statement read.
The Minority singled out NDC Deputy National Communications Officer, Malik Basintale, and Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, as the leaders of the violent disruptions. They alleged that Basintale had, during a rally the day before, openly encouraged supporters to engage in such violent conduct.
Multiple incidents of violence were reported during the rerun. At the St. Peter’s polling station, NDC thugs allegedly assaulted the New Patriotic Party’s parliamentary candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, former Fisheries Minister Hawa Koomson, and former Okaikwei South MP Darkoa Newman.
In another incident at the Church of Pentecost North Odorkor 2 polling station, a police officer reportedly slapped Banahene Agyekum, a journalist with the EIB Network, while he was covering the elections.
The Minority also highlighted the arrest of NDC thugs dressed in brown uniforms and posing as security personnel at the Awoshie DVLA polling station after they failed to provide identification. Additionally, confrontations between thugs and police were reported at Asiedu Gyedu Memorial School 1 polling station, creating a tense and chaotic environment that threatened voters’ safety.
At another polling centre, Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei Asamoah, the Deputy National Organiser of the NPP, was allegedly assaulted by NDC thugs.
The statement criticised the appearance of the Ministers for the Interior and Defence at polling stations, describing their presence as a “public gimmick” intended to feign concern while masking their “gross inaction and complicity in the thuggery.”
The Minority reiterated its long-standing concerns about security in the constituency and accused the Electoral Commission of undermining public confidence with its decision to conduct a rerun in 19 polling stations instead of the three initially indicated.
They called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the assaults on Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, Hawa Koomson, Banahene Agyekum, and Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei Asamoah, and to prosecute all perpetrators involved in the violent disruptions.
“The continued disenfranchisement of Ablekuma North residents, who have been without parliamentary representation since January 7, is unacceptable,” the Minority stressed, urging civil society, the media, and the international community to closely monitor developments to safeguard Ghana’s democratic processes.
Below is the statement:
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
