Violence In The Ayawaso West Wuogon By-Election; A Scar On Our Democracy
I have been informed of the incidence of shooting and other related acts of violence in unprovoked attacks, resulting in some members of our great NDC party sustaining serious injuries during the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency by-election.
While I commiserate with the injured and traumatized victims, I wish to absolutely condemn these acts of violence being visited upon law abiding citizens who are exercising a democratic right to vote in an election.
I have also been briefed about the unusual activities of supposed police men clad in unfamiliar uniforms with masks, armed with AK-47 assault riffles with no badge numbers or name tags and patrolling within the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in a manner that voters find intimidating.
The Ghana Police Service owes itself a duty to explain the use of such an unkown unit in a by-election of this sort, investigate the horrendous crimes committed today and prosecute the culprits in no time.
While I lend my support to the national leadership of our party as they address these matters through democratic means, I wish to call on party supporters to be resolute and not be intimidated by persons who believe that the only way to win political power is to deploy force and voilence.
The use of violence in elections and within the conduct of any democratic exercise cannot and will not be countenanced in the run up to the 2020 general elections. The government and all State institutions mandated to maintain law and order must remain loyal to our sacred Constitution and rid our politics of all forms of violence.
I wish the injured NDC members a speedy recovery and assure them of my sincerest sympathies and utmost support in these difficult times.
*Prof. Joshua Alabi*
Thursday, January 31st, 2019
Sunyani
Source: NDC Press
