Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has indicated that the complaint filed with CHRAJ is to demand action to prevent next election from being threatened.
Speaking on the action they have taken, he intimated that if this action is not taken, violence during elections will be rampant.
“We are demanding action so that subsequent elections will not be threatened. If we do not take any action, if CHRAJ does not live up to its constitutional mandate,;then the flood gates are opened for all violence in all elections which is what we do not want.
“I believe the vast majority of peace-loving Ghanaians do not want a situation where elections become a license to kill. That during elections, people can kill, can maim, can destroy and get away with it.”
Okudzeto Ablakwa
Detailing the complaint,;he stated that the complaint is to demand action for the persons who died due to what he described as the indiscriminate use of forces during the 2020 elections.
“I can confirm that the Honorable Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Buah, MP for Elembele constituency and I have successfully filed the complaint with CHRAJ invoking our mandate of CHRAJ under article 218 in the constitution to investigate the gross human rights violation that occurred during the December 2020 election.
“We will recall that at least 7 persons lost their lives. We have detailed in this petition the circumstances under which Arjaden Alhassan and Abdalah Ayarig of Techiman South, at the Odododiodio constituency 32-year-old Emmanuel Dompreh amongst others were shot and killed. These 7 persons are crying out for justice. These souls will not rest until this country pursues justice for them.”
Okudzeto Ablakwa
Other victims suffering injuries
Mr. Ablakwa further stated that there are a host of others who have been maimed, who are suffering life changing injuries. This, he said, is because of the indiscriminate use of force and the recklessness with which persons purporting to be election security force officers carried out their mandate.
“We will not be sustaining our democracy with that kind of precedence. That is what this complaint to CHRAJ is invoking.”
Okudzeto Ablakwa
We want independent investigations
Mr. Ablakwa averred that they complained to CHRAJ because it has the constitutional mandate to tackle the case. He also added that they also want independent investigations into the matter.
“We are not too confident in that public kind of endeavor and endangered trust. It will appear as though there is some conflict of interest. Let’s have an independent body which is CHRAJ, far removed from the police, the military so that they can carry out their mandate without fear or favor.”
Okudzeto Ablakwa
He also said they believe the general public will come along and be more confident in a thorough and diligent work that CHRAJ carries out. He further said they taking it to CHRAJ is also due to the lack of credibility in the Police investigations regarding the elections.
