AWW: ‘Stray bullet’ silenced Sam George

The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram Constituency has recounted how he was silenced in the heat of the “action movie” at the recently held Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.

Sam Nartey George indicated to the Emile Short Commission investigating the violence during the election that he stopped protesting about the brutalities being meted out on civilians by armed masked security operatives, sensing someone may intentionally shoot him and blame it on stray bullet.

The violent activities at the Ayawaso West Wuogon have attracted round criticism as security capos try strenuously to justify some of their actions.

When Sam George appeared before the Commission on Monday, he noted that a flashback of the violent incident “leaves him traumatised”.

He presented at least 28 shells he claimed came from guns fired by the security operatives, who are accused of perpetuating the violent act, saying he at least heard about 40 shots fired at the residence of the NDC candidate.

The MP said while taking cover by a wall, he witnessed the indiscriminate firing of gunshots from the security personnel.

He identified one of the men who shot at the crowd as Double, a security operative, he said, works at the VIP Lounge of the Kotoka International Airport.

“I saw these armed men, a number of them, pulled out their side weapons, point in the crowd; the crowd has started dispersing as soon as the first shot was fired, but this time point, I saw them point directly in the crowd, the direction of the crowd and fire.

“I saw Double, also point his AK47 and attempt to fire, the gun jammed, I saw him clear his chamber, reload the gun and fire several rounds from his AK47.”

He recalled after constant screaming, which perhaps halted the firing, he was asked by Double to follow him to go for a certain key seized by the security operatives.

He said at a building between a school, where voting was going on, and the NDC candidate’s house, a young man was accosted and struck down by the armed masked men.

“They constantly kicked his head and body parts whilst he laid on the ground,” Sam George told the Commission.

He said one of the armed men picked a concrete block and attempted to smash it and he told Double to ask his men to stop the assault but he said he was told by Double “to shut up”.

“I said to him I am a Member of Parliament, this is wrong, and he asked me if I knew what a stray bullet was. At that point in time I shut up,” he recounted.