The Majority Leader of Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has urged legislators to be consistent in their advocacy for justice on electoral violence related issues.
According to him, he was also subjected to outright attacks during the 2000 general elections. As a result, the scope of investigations surrounding such violence must be broadened.
Speaking in an interview, he explained that individuals involved in his attack must be made to face the law.
“We should be consistent in our advocacy. Let’s widen the net. I personally have been a victim in the 2000’s general election. The driver of the then General Anyidoho… called Sergeant Alhassan, came and assaulted me as an MP contesting the election. Should I be forgotten because it was 2000? Let’s be honest to ourselves as a nation”.
Probe election related violence
The Suame legislator also recounted other violent acts which had occurred in previous years during election periods in the country.
“Some people were run over by the pick-ups belonging to the NDC Women’s Organiser at the time and the Attorney General at the time, Martin Amidu came to Parliament to respond to this issue that yes it was unfortunate that happened. He told us that unfortunately, they are not able to get the people who were involved and persecute them.
“Do we have to live by that as a country? I think we should be truthful to ourselves. We had by-elections at Chereponi, I was there personally where seven people were shot at point blank by an operative from the Castle at the time… It took the intervention of Prof. Frimpong Boateng to save the lives of those seven people who were ferried to the Yendi Government Hospital”.
He further noted that lives lost via election violence must not be forgotten in a hurry.
“Should we forget about them? Should we forget about the lives of those individuals? Crimes have no expiry date, does it?”
Majority side pledges support to election related violence
That notwithstanding, Mr. Osei Kyei Bonsu pledged his side’s support to the Minority in its pursuit of getting the House to probe the 2020 general election violence.
He further iterated that the majority side would only support the investigation if it is extended to cover all other electoral related violence since the inception of the fourth republic.
“Well, we have had numerous elections including by-elections in this country which has witnessed violence, why single out the last year’s election?
“In principle, I will support but if we want to be truthful to ourselves, let’s go back and investigate everything that would help us to make better recommendations which will stand the test of time. It shouldn’t be picking and choosing”.
Mr. Osei Kyei Bonsu’s comment follows a motion filed by six Minority MP’s led by the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrissu asking Parliament to investigate circumstances leading to the violence during the 2020 polls.
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