The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Akufo-Addo to publish the Justice Emile Short Commission of Inquiry’s report on the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence.
The Commission, that was set up to probe the violence, presented its report to the President a few weeks ago.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Y3GmHIrDXSr23RF5ijxOujnIAj0ojIhV”]Although President Akufo-Addo has said that, the government will do its best to implement the recommendations of the report, it has however not been published yet.
The NDC in a statement said the President is disregarding the principles of transparency and accountability by refusing to publish the report.
“We recall that the Short Commission presented its report to the President on 15th March 2019, and till date – almost a month, the President for some unknown reason, is sitting on the said report.”
“This is a blatant disregard for the principles of transparency and accountability that the President swore to uphold. In spite of the fact that the NDC boycotted the proceedings of the Commission, we believe that the Ayawaso West Wuogon issue is a matter of intense national and international interest and that the people of Ghana deserve to know the findings and recommendation of the Commission,” portions of the statement said.
The report among other things outlines the findings and recommendations from the committee’s probe of the violence.
When the document was presented to the President, Chairman of the Commission, Justice Emile Short did not give details of the report but was optimistic that the recommendations will be implemented.
Here is the full statement by the NDC
PUBLISH EMILE SHORT COMMISSION REPORT NOW
“The National Democratic Congress calls on the President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. Nana Akufo-Addo, to without any delay, publish in full, the report of the Emil Short Commission of Enquiry which was set up by the President to investigate the circumstances surrounding the violence that broke out during the bye-election at Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency on 31st January, 2019.
We recall that the Short Commission presented its report to the President on 15th March, 2019, and yet till date – almost a month, the President for some unknown reason, is sitting on the said report. This is a blatant disregard for the principles of transparency and accountability that the President swore to uphold. Inspite of the fact that the NDC boycotted the proceedings of the Commission, we believe that the Ayawaso West Wuogon issue is a matter of intense national and international interest, and that the people of Ghana deserve to know the findings and recommendation of the Commission.
What makes this demand imperative is the fact that till date, the perpetrators of the violence at the bye-election who were captured live on videos, are still free and walking the streets of Ghana. What is even more disturbing is that we still do not know the status of the police investigation into the said matter, despite assurances to the country.
In the circumstances, we call on the President to cause to be published the full report of the Emil Short Commission immediately.”
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By: Marian Ansah| citinewsroom.com| Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah