KORLE KLOTTEY CONSTITUENCY EXECUTIVES (NDC) CONDEMNS RECENT ATTACK AND ASSAULT ON ITS MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, HON. NII ARMAH ASHIETEY BY MTTU COMMANDER ACP ANGWUBUTOGE AWUNI
The Klottey Korle constituency executives of the National Democratic Congress in the Greater Accra region has condemned recent act of assault and intimidation perpetuated against its Member of Parliament, Hon. Nii Armah Ashietey by police officers of the MTTU HQ led by the commander ACP Angwubutoge Awuni during the 2nd phase of the on-going biometric voter registration exercise.
It must be noted that, this MTTU HQ registration centre is bounded on the south by the Odododiodoo constituency and accommodates mostly traders. So it is not located in Klottey Korle but in Odododiodoo.
This registration center is sited purposely for the police officers, dependants and families who reside in the barracks. He was not interfering in the registration process in any way, and it was also not at his instance over the EC officials to suspend the process. So one wonders why police officers and some EC officials will encourage migrant workers and passers-by to register at this centre when the law regarding residents and non residents is very clear.
The EC officials out of their own volition decided to suspend the registration process pending the arrival of the district registration supervisor who had been called to come and clarify and therefore explain who could register or not.
Even as we stood at the centre, in the company of some constituency executives we saw people crossing from the market area to join the already formed long queues and drew the attention of the EC officials. As Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Nii Armah Ashietey quickly sent a phone call to the district registration supervisor, Adolf Lokko to come and intervene on the issue.
As part of his parliamentary duties of visiting registration centres on a daily basis, he was accompanied by the constituency secretary, organizer, youth organizer and some branch executives.
It is difficult to understand why he will be prevented from seeking clarification on a thorny issue of people who do not reside in the locality who will be registered to decide who the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle should be.
The MP was not impeding the registration process in any way. Out of no provocation, on the orders of ACP Awuni, Hon. Nii Armah Ashietey was held by his shirt, brutalized, intimidated and physically assaulted in the full glare of the public.
It is also instructive to note that in all of these, the constituency executives and party supporters believe there is a deliberate attempt on the part of the NPP to encourage non-residents to register in Klottey Korle constituency to boost their votes in order to gain political advantage over the NDC in the December general elections. Have ACP Awuni and his
perpetrators forgotten so soon that, Hon. Nii Armah Ashietey is the immediate past Chairman of Greater Accra REGSEC. Will the MTTU commander still gone ahead with his insulting and violent behavior if the former Regional Minister was still at post or Parliament in session?
This calculated attack on our Member of Parliament must be condemned by all well meaning Ghanaians. We call on civil society to deliberate on this issue in a non partisan manner. Hon. Nii Armah Ashietey does not deserve this treatment from trained police officers who are supposed to protect law and order and the safety of the citizenry.
Much as we will not condone any wrong doing by anyone, it is very important that we must respect public office holders in the course of our duties.
As these unruly acts were perpetuated on the former Greater Accra Regional Minister, someone who has served in government for three long years and three months, Madam Ursula Owusu who is the NPP parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma South was in the vicinity of the MTTU H/Q yard to secure the release of her macho man operative who had been arrested for riding an unlicensed motor bike and not wearing a helmet.
ACP Awuni did not see anything wrong with this incident? She was again seen in broad day light holding a megaphone and announcing to street hawkers and traders at Okaishie market (Odododiodoo area) saying all Ghanaians living anywhere could go and register at MTTU H/Q because the MP for the area had been arrested and that “all die be die” action had begun. She later came back to the registration centre in contention and congratulated the police for a job well done.
The Klottey Korle constituency executives have come to a firm conclusion that MTTU commander ACP Angwubutoge Awuni has shown his bias for the NPP and cannot be seen to be neutral and has therefore brought the name of the police service into serious disrepute.
This orchestrated and deliberate act of assault and inhuman treatment meted out to our Member of Parliament who has brought unprecedented development to the Klottey Korle constituency and the region at large by ACP Awuni and his men could have adverse implications and also threaten peace and security and its calculated repercussion of tarnishing the hard won image of Hon. Nii Armah Ashietey must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet.
ACP Awuni's action was also intended to put fear and panic in our registration agents who have been trained and know the rules governing the registration process. Our Member of Parliament doesn't deserve this treatment and therefore want justice to be done.
The Klottey Korle constituency executives and party members are calling on the Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Minister of Interior and the Inspector-General of Police to thoroughly investigate this matter and establish the truth. Justice must surely be done.
Thank you.
SOLO ADDO
CONSTITUENCY SEC.
026 887 0268 / 024 787 6446