Government’s White Paper On Ayawaso Report “Clears” Key Culprits

The Akufo Addo administration has refused important recommendations in the Emile Short Commission of Inquiry which investigated the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence

The government rejected the recommendations of the commission for the Minister of State in Charge of National Security, Bryan Acheampong be reprimanded. It also rejected recommendations for the criminal prosecution of Ernest Akomea alias ‘Double’ “for the unauthorized possession of firearms. He was one of the irregular persons conscripted in the guise of National Security operative to unleash mayhem in Ayawaso.

The Whitepaper also indicated reluctance in apportioning punishment to the SWAT commander, DSP Samuel Kojo Azugu, who headed the hoodlums dressed in security gear and who opened fire on unarmed civilians.

According to the he government the commission which it set up, failed to establish a “factual basis for the said recomednations”

Late December 2018, the Bryan Acheampong inspired National Security Agency unleashed a group of heavily armed men in masks to cause mayhem during the by-elections. In their rampage, they assaulted a Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nettey George and fired live bullets from assault rifles directly at civilians, injuring dozens.

The armed men are believed to have been conscripted from the political militia group of the ruling government known as the Invisible Forces.

They hijacked regular police armoured vehicles and mounted the said operation without the knowledge of Police chiefs or the Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah.

The Short Commission has recommended the disbanding of the irate SWAT team allegedly attached to the national security agency.

The government’s rejection of some key recommendations of the Short commission despite the clear breaches has irked some members of the public who stood aghast at the blatant use of state power to suppress civilians during an election.

Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe has warned that the rejection of significant recommendations in the Short report had  the tendency to raise unnecessary electoral tension.