Bye-Election Violence: A Dent On Ghana’s Image

The NDC Professionals Forum International - North America is appalled by the bloody event that characterized the recent by-election in Ayawaso West Wuogon in Accra.

The group, therefore “demand the immediate dismissal of the IGP, the Head of National Security and the local Police Commander who from all account and purposes, woefully failed the Ghanaian people in the performance of their duty”.

In a strongly worded statement to the media signed by President of Pro-Forum North America, Arnold Appiah, the group decried what it called the undervaluing of Ghanaian life by the NPP government and called for an immediate investigation to bring all found culpable of infringing on the rights of Ghanaians to book.

The group said the silence of the President over the matter is inexcusable and implored as a matter of urgency that Ghanaians take note of how the NPP under Nana Akuffo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia address the issue and make up their minds, as to whether these are people to commit Ghana's safety too.

The NDC Pro-forum further “urged all Ghanaians to remember those who have sacrificed their lives to get us where we are today and recommit to the fight for probity and accountability in our body politic”.

See full statement here:

Wuogon By-Election Is A Dent On Ghana’s Image And Must Be Investigated

The NDC Professionals forum International - North America is appalled by the bloody event that characterized what the international community thought was going to be one of the smoothest and peaceful democratic by-elections in the history of Ghana.

Ghana has rightfully earned its seat in the Commonwealth, United Nations, African Union and other international bodies that seeks to enhance democracy and peaceful coexistence through its enviable sacrifice and commitment to the rule of law.

As members of the International Professional Forum of the NDC, we stand for a Ghana where the basic and fundamental freedoms of human society are protected: freedom of speech, freedom of association, congregation, thought, etc...etc.

It is therefore sad and pathetic to note that our country Ghana, which has successfully gone through several elections over the past quarter of a century should be bedevilled by bloody by-elections and referenda which has completely ruined the reputation of our beloved country on the international scene.

As such we, NDC Professionals' Forum International - North America condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutality of force used on innocent Ghanaians and the unnecessary use of gunfire on an unarmed civilian population for no justifiable cause. This blatant show of force which has become a hallmark of the current government and its operatives is yet another sign that they have lost control of the country and must resort to such intimidating tactic to cement their authority.

The blatant disregard of laid-down laws by this group of NPP terrorist posing as Ghana's security forces and the unbelievable lack of response from the Ghana Police and other security agencies sworn to the protection of the Ghanaian, gives us cause to believe that the government had full knowledge of what was happening and may even have been in control of issuing directives in the background.

We further posit that their silence over the matter is inexcusable. The number one constitutional commitment of the Oath of Office of the President is to safeguard the security of each and every individual Ghanaian, as such whether or not it is established that the government was complicit in these actions; we firmly declare that they have woefully failed the people of Ghana in not ensuring safety.

We also want to point out that until they bring the culprits of these dastardly actions to book and issue the severest deterrent punishment for the bloodshed and the maiming of Ghanaians, we shall continue to hold them personally accountable and urge Ghanaians to demand accountability of this government which came into power on the wings of false claims among which was one of eradicating corruption and establishing law and order in the country.

We also demand the immediate dismissal of the IGP, the Head of National Security and the local Police Commander who from all account and purposes, woefully failed the Ghanaian people in the performance of their duty. The local Police Commander has stated on record that the "SWAT" team members were not under his command. We, therefore, demand an immediate public investigation into how it came to be that the members of this terrorist group were using a police-marked-vehicle, how they came to be issued firearms and who gave the command for them to shoot innocent civilians.

We further implore as a matter of urgency that Ghanaians take note of how the NPP under Nana Akuffo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia address this issue and make up their minds, as to whether these are people to commit Ghana's safety too.

We decry the undervaluing of Ghanaian life by this government and once again firmly request that all found to be involved in these treasonous un-Ghanaian acts be brought to book forthwith.

Reports that the individuals involved are members of an NPP vigilante group infiltrated into the Bureau of National Security by the current head of the Bureau, needs to be thoroughly investigated and to get to the bottom of that, Ghanaians must be made aware of how these individuals came to be members of the BNI "SWAT" Unit. Full sanctions must be applied against anyone found in contravention of any of the provisions for hiring into the Public and Civil Service.

We cannot but note the clear and present danger this incident and many others before it demonstrates the fragility of our democracy.

As such, we of the NDC Professionals' Forum -North America urge all Ghanaians to remember those who have sacrificed their lives to get us where we are today and recommit to the fight for probity and accountability in our body politic.

We beseech that under no circumstance should any Ghanaian vote this callous, self-ingratiating NPP government back into power come 2020.

Your vote is your power and we urge you to exercise it wisely.

Signed.

Arnold Appiah

(President, NDC Pro-Forum – North America)