The opposition National Democratic Congress has called on the National Peace Council and other key stakeholders interested in Ghana’s democracy to ensure the closure of the violence that happened during the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election, the 2020 election and Enjura, which resulted in the death and maiming of some citizens.
The party’s National Women Organizer, Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw speaking at a dialogue organized for the various political parties in the country by the National Peace Council, expressed deep concerns about what she described as an institutionalization of a culture of impunity in the country.
According to her, several innocent Ghanaians have suffered severe injuries while some families have lost relatives due to an act of violence that characterized previous elections in the country.
“What do I do when it is the system that come after me? What do I do when I go to my polling centre at 4am and saw these mask-azugu men in tundras. What will you do when a police officer was helpless or what do you do when there are state sponsored vigilantes holding guns and being led by a police commander to beat Members of Parliament or go to a candidates house to shoot people”.
Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw
Commenting on the violence that associated the Aywaso West Wuogon bye-election in December 2019, the National Women Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress bemoaned of the government’s failure to implement and effect the recommendations of its own committee report.
She also expressed concerns about the failure of the current government to investigate the gruesome killing of eight citizens during the 2020 general elections and subsequently questioned the silence of the National Peace Council amidst the two unfortunates’ events.
Furthermore, the former Member of Parliament for Tano South in the Ahafo region noted with discontent the unprofessional conduct of one military officer which led to the killing of an innocent young man in Edwira in the Ashanti region during a peaceful protest.
She noted that even though compensations were given to the victims and other relatives of the person who perished during the unfortunate event, no single officer was held responsible, accountable or even prosecuted by the government after the event.
The Honorable Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw expressed her displeasure against what according to her is becoming a threat to the country’s democracy and peace as well.
Moreover, the National Women Organizer for the opposition National Democratic Congress urged the National Peace Council to focus on addressing issues that undermines justice in the country as it’s the former which is the key ingredient towards achieving the latter.
Dr Hannah Bissiw recounting her experience during the Assin North bye-election alleged that some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress were attacked during the election by some masked-men.
“So if the issues of violence that associated the 2020 elections were not addressed then what are we doing talking about peace because I saw what happened in my constituency, we saw military shooting left, right-centre, what was is for.
“And so if I am going into an election, do you expect me to trust the system and go with my ten fingers, two legs and only voter ID card to go and vote. Am I not required to stand there and observe because I have that right”
Dr Hanna Louisa Bissiw
According to her, the National Democratic Congress as a political party would not allow the event of Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election and the 2020 election to reoccur again particularly in the 2024 upcoming elections.
She admonished the National Peace Council to take keen interest in ensuring that the ruling New Patriotic Party does not misuse the country’s security for its benefit as the opposition party would resist any attempt from the ruling party to repeat the happening of the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election and the 2020 general elections.
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