Electoral Violence: Have Courage To Implement Short Comm. Recommendations To Serve As Deterrent - Catholic Bishops' Conference To Gov't
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ghana, have observed with dismay the spate of violence during the current Voters’ Registration Exercise being conducted by the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
In a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com, they note with great concern the acts of politically orchestrated violence in the Ejura-Sekyere Odumase Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Kasoa in the Central Region, the Asutifi South and Tano South Constituencies in the Ahafo Region, the Dormaa West Constituency in the Bono Region, Ho West in the Volta Region and Fadama and New Town in the Greater Accra Region, just to mention a few.
These sparks of violence have sadly claimed the life of an innocent Ghanaian at Banda Ahenkro in the Bono region with many others injured.
According to the Conference the latest action on Monday, July 20, 2020 of the Special Development Initiatives Minister and Member of Parliament for Awutu-Senya East Constituency in the Central Region, Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson, is very disturbing.
“While the police take action on this matter, we hope that the appropriate sanctions will be taken against her by the Executive and the Legislature,” the statement read, adding that it is an indictment, to say the least, that after 27 years of democratic governance under our Fourth Republic Constitution, Ghana is still experiencing political party-related violence whenever polls are conducted to elect leaders and, in this case, the compilation of a voters’ register.
They reminded all Political Parties, particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), of the agreement they signed against vigilantism and restrain their members from engaging in acts of violence in the name of politics.
“We, therefore, urge the government to have the courage to implement the Emile Short Commission’s recommendations on the Ayawaso West Wuogon By-Election violence, especially the sections that refer to instances of criminality. This, we believe, will serve as a deterrent to these criminals who otherwise will continue to act with impunity,” a portion of the statement read.
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