Akufo-Addo lauds Mahama over bloody demo probe

The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has applauded President John Mahama for condemning the Ghana Police for meting out unprovoked brutalities against unarmed demonstrators in last Wednesday’s picketing for a new voters’ register.

Mahama’s condemnation, according to Nana Akufo-Addo, has reassured all democrats and freedom loving Ghanaians about the nation’s commitment to maintaining democratic governance.

“I have held discussions with the police authority and urged the command to review the unfortunate event of last Wednesday in line with policies and procedures that officers are expected to follow in response to incidents of this sort. The basic rights of all citizens must be recognised and respected at all times,” Mahama said at the Asogli Yam festival, at Ho over the weekend.

However, Nana Akufo-Addo respectfully disagreed with the President’s directive for an internal police review into the brutal assaults of the demonstrators, stating that it could lead to a cover-up.

Nana Akufo-Addo reaffirmed his position made in Bolgatanga, a day after the assaults, that a commission of inquiry is the only way to unearth the truth about what happened on that fateful Wednesday, and make the appropriate recommendations to forestall its reoccurrence.

“The police hierarchy was very quick to come out to defend their actions. An internal review is likely to lead to a cover-up, because the hierarchy will find it very difficult to reverse itself,” he said.

“An independent commission of inquiry is what is needed so we can have an impartial, objective and transparent inquiry, which will make the appropriate recommendations that will enable us have confidence that we have a police service that can police a free, open, democratic society,” Nana Addo added on the final day of his tour of the Northern region.

Nana Akufo-Addo, on behalf of the NPP, also extended his deepest condolences to one of the demonstrators, Justice Adzakumah, who lost one of his eyes as a result of police brutality in the demonstration.