Don’t force us to pass Vigilantism Bill if you don’t publish Short Commission Report - Minority

The Minority in Parliament has asked President Akufo-Addo to publish the Emile Short Commission report if he wants the vigilantism bill passed.

According to the Minority, no one can force parliament to pass the bill when the outcome of the Emile Short Commission’s work has not been published.

Addressing the press on Wednesday the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, James Agalga, there is a compelling reason for the President to cause the publication of the report despite the fact that the constitutional time bar of six months within which to release the report has not elapsed.

He indicated that the president was mandated to publish the report if he was indeed committed to the fight against vigilantism.

“Notwithstanding the discretionary powers vested in the President in Article 280 (4), on the publication or otherwise of the report of a committee of inquiry, there are compelling reasons why it will be grossly misconceived for the president to seek refuge under the said Article. The Emile Short Committee report deals directly with political-related violence and acts of political party vigilantism and necessarily must serve as source material for Parliament’s review before any legislation on vigilantism can be passed.”

“President Akufo-Addo must hold the tenets of good governance by publishing the Emile Short’s Commission’s report given the public interest nature of the issue investigated by the said commission.”

The Emile Short Commission was set up to probe the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence.

When the Commission president its report, the president promised to implement the findings of the report.