CHRAJ urges gov’t to prioritize security

One of the masked men said to be national security operatives who allegedly fired the gunshots[/caption] The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is urging the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his security chiefs and advisors and other stakeholders to prioritize the security of Ghanaians. The Commission has observed with concern “the evolving security situation in recent times in the country” and thus wants the president to act as soon as possible. CHRAJ is particularly concerned about Thursday’s violence, which occurred at La Bawaleshie during the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election which saw Lydia Syram Alhassan elected as new Member of Parliament. A statement issued February 1 condemned that act entirely. “The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) condemns in no uncertain terms acts of violence leading to grievous bodily injuries caused to some members of the electorate during the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election held in Accra yesterday”, a statement signed by the Commissioner, Joseph Whittal, said. The Commission, just like the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), raised concerns about the security arrangement that was put in place for the election, especially with masking of some security men.

• Election observers question security arrangement for Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election

“The Commission believes that the security arrangements for this by-election by the Ghana Police Service were inadequate, and the deployment of heavily armed, masked and hooded security personnel to the La Bawaleshie polling centre to harass, intimidate, and shoot indiscriminately into the electorate, harming some in the process, as criminal and dastardly acts that should not be allowed to go unpunished,” the statement indicated. The Commission is thus calling on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. David Asante-Apeatu, and other national security and law enforcement bodies to investigate thoroughly circumstances that led to the shooting incident at the polling centre and to punish the perpetrators if found culpable. The Commission also calls on the political parties sponsoring vigilante groups to put a stop to it. Source: 3news.com|Ghana]]>