Woyongo Must Be Fired... - Movement For Change Charges
Several violent incidents were recorded during the Talensi by-election; and in the aftermath of it a group known as Movement for Change, had expected the Interior Minister, Hon Mark Woyongo to offer words that would have cooled tempers.
But to their dismay, the minister did the opposite and they have called on President Mahama to dismiss him.
Below is a copy of their statement
We have taken note of some very shocking and dangerous remarks made by Ghana's interior minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo in the wake of the violence that characterized the Talensi by-election yesterday.
In an interview with Prince Minkah on Ultimate FM in Kumasi the Interior Minister emphatically justified the atrocious acts of violence initiated by the 'Azorka boys' in the elections. He loudly mentioned that 'violence begets violence' and that the thuggery by the 'Azorka' militia was not without provocation.
It was therefore no coincidence, that the Police, a state institution under Mr Woyongo's ministry looked unconcerned as the Azorka Boys sprayed gunshot bullets and initiated pandemonium during yesterday's by-elections in Talensi without any arrest
Such reckless comments are undeserving of a Minister of State who has sworn the oath of allegiance to protect the lives and properties of Ghanaians.
As Minister for the Interior, Mr Woyongo has sworn to ensure peace not to promote and institutionalise violence as he did upon passing those unfortunate comments. With barely 16 months to the 2016 general elections, Ghana and Ghanaians need a peaceful and responsible Interior Minister and environment for a peaceful election in December 2016.
A man like Mr Woyongo has clearly displayed that he is no lover of peace. Such an individual cannot and should not be trusted with a highly sensitive Ministry like that of the Interior.
His continual stay in office will not only threaten the peace and stability of our dear nation Ghana which will also indicate that the President in approval of Mr Woyongo's institutionalisation of violence in national politics
These comments from no mean a person than an Interior Minister whose core mandate is ensuring internal security, law and order is nothing but the height of irresponsibility.
Is it a clear case of recipe for state sanctioned chaos and an indication of efforts by the Mahama led NDC government to institutionalize lawlessness and violence all in our electoral processes?
For a country approaching a very crucial election next year, this portends the greatest danger to the peace and stability of the country. The vicious stance taken by a man who controls the Police and internal security of the country in the face of violence is something all well meaning Ghanaians cannot gloss over.
His comments are very reckless, evil and irresponsible; we therefore call on the President to dismiss him. The security of this country is not safe under this man who sees nothing wrong electoral voilence.
We consequently call on the National Peace Council and all Civil Society groups to take strong interest in this matter and condemn these evil utterances in no uncertain terms.
We should not wait for the situation to degenerate before we go through a tedious and painful path to restore sanity.
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