Peter Boamah Otukunor
THE OPPOSITION National Democratic Congress (NDC) seems grossly confused about its stand regarding the Justice Emile Short-led Commission of Inquiry probing the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election shootings.
NDC had made it clear from the onset that it will not partake in the three-member Commission’s inquiry which started hearings yesterday at the Osu Castle in Accra.
The NDC registered its mistrust in the Commission, saying “…the NDC is also aware that the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry is the government’s attempt to try to shield its party-affiliated hoodlums from criminal accountability. The Government is labouring under the assumption that setting up a commission of inquiry immunizes these criminal elements from criminal prosecution because of the decision of the High Court in the Ghana@50 case.”
In a statement, the party said “…we do not need an entire commission of inquiry to identify those who were involved in this illegal and unconstitutional operation.” the statement added.
But the party appears now to be beating retreat, saying it will not prevent its members who were assaulted from appearing before the Commission.
Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Peter Boamah Otukunor, told the media “while we will not participate in the activities of the commission, while we would be pursuing the course of justice for the victims in the attack, we would not stop or we will not bar any victim from appearing before the commission whether they are NDC members or not.”
NDC Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, Sam Nartey George has already defied the party when he said he will be appearing before the Commission.
Sam George was slapped twice during the by-election won by NPP’s Lydia Seyram Alhassan on January 31, 2019, by a man believed to be a national security operative.
Interestingly, its current position of opting not to prevent its members that were assaulted from appearing before the Commission show that the party is a bit confused as to what it really wants.
BY Melvin Tarlue