12 suspects on the run for murder of three election monitors

Accra, June 7, GNA - Interior Minister, Papa Owusu Ankomah, on Tuesday said 12 persons have been identified as "key suspects" implicated in the death of three persons murdered during last year's general elections.

"These perpetrators of the crimes, however, fled the area after the commission of the acts and are in hiding."

"The police have declared them as wanted persons and warrants issued for their arrest," the Minister said in answer to a question. Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong, NPP-Assin North, had asked about what the Ministry was doing about the murder of Abu Hanifa Barsha, Ahmed Mohammed and Alhasan Dawuni killed in the Northern Region on election day last year.

The Minister said: "the report by the police on the incident provided different names for those who were said to have been killed. Since the report of the police and the question relate to the same incident, I, however, assume that the persons referred to are the same." "The names of the deceased as given by the police are: Yakubu Napari, Anifa Abubakari and Amadu Iddrisu," the Minister explained attracting strong opposition from the Minority who said since the Minister had given different names for those murdered, he cannot be said to be answering the question posed by the member for Assin North. The Interior Minister had to endure the frustration of the Minority who interrupted several times by insisting that he (the Minister) was not addressing the issue before the House because of the different names provided in the police report.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, who ignored calls by the Minority to stop answering the question, said following the death of three persons during last elections an investigation team was dispatched from Accra to assist the Northern Regional command.

He said investigations confirmed that the three people, Yakubu Napari, Anifa Abubakari and Amadu Idrisu, engaged to monitor the elections, were killed at Jakpani and Gbuulung in the Kumbungu Constituency.

The Minister said currently discreet enquiries were being conducted to identify the hideouts of the 12 suspects, adding that he had given the police one month to apprehend the suspects.