Spio Sues EC, IGP, Two Others: Over Ayawaso Violence

A flagbearer aspirant for the opposition National Democratic Congress, Ekwow Spio Garbrah has dragged the National Security Minister Byran Acheampong and three other state institutions before an Accra High Court over the political violence at Ayawaso West Wuogon in the Greater Accra Region.

The suit also names the Electoral Commission headed by Jean Mensah the Inspector-General of Police and Attorney-General Ms. Gloria Akuffo as other defendants to the action.

Among the declarations, is one calling on the Attorney-General to present a bill dealing with surging political thuggery linked to violence during the recent bye-election,

Mayhem

The plaintiff Ekwow Spio-Garbrah who also aspires to become President, wants the court to order the A-G to have the bill in place within 90 days.

In protest, the minority in parliament staged a walk out during the swearing in of Lydia Alhassan as the Parliamentary l Candidate of the NPP, wielding placards with the inscription “Bloody Widow”, an action that has been widely criticized by any Ghanaians.

It may be recalled that masked men dressed in National Security uniform stormed the residence of the candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kwasi Brempong, during the January 31 by-election in the constituency.

They attacked his supporters including Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel George and fired guns which led to many people getting injured with others maimed.

The act has been widely condemned by civil society organisations as well as international bodies like the UNDP.

The government subsequently instituted the Emile Short Commission and tasked it among others, “submit within one month its report to the President giving reasons for its findings and recommendations, including appropriate sanctions, if any.”

Suit

But in a writ at the court, lawyers for the NDC presidential hopeful said the election started at the La- Bawaleshie polling station area, some masked armed in some kind of NSC uniforms and riding in SWAT police vehicles belonging to the Ghana Police Service, stormed the polling station areas, already named designated EC officials and service gear for the conduct of the elections since 1992 and generated some kind of violence that resulted in gunshots and assault by these masked armed men leading to various forms of injuries and brutalities against innocent citizens.

Lawyer for the plaintiff George Tetteh Wayo said some six and more persons received gunshots wounds and had to undergo medical treatment at the Legon and 37 hospitals.

Mr. Spio among others said as a possible candidate to lead the NDC and by extension when voted for would lead the NDC into the 2020 national presidential elections and when the NDC wins political power would be leader of Ghana, owes it a constitutional and moral duty to seek declarations to such matters of national security and public interest.

The plaintiff further states that an incident free election would have provide viable statistics for the 2020 polls as every credible politician considers every voting pattern crucial to electoral fortunes adding that this is lost due to the violence.

As a result the plaintiff is seeking a declaration that on the Election Day some masked men stormed the polling station and created violence.

Mr. Spio is seeking another declaration that the masked police men used police SWAT vehicles for the perpetration of the said violence, a sign to the to the public that beside their strange presence, citizens should assume them to be from the SWAT wing of the police which thereafter caused violence brutalities and injuries to innocent citiuzens.

 

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson