Investigate Maxwell Kofi Jumah -FGJ

PRESSSTATEMENT: Investigate Maxwell Kofi Jumah (Mp) – He Is A Danger To Our Peace And Security

October 16, 2012

The Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) wishes to call on the Police CID to immediately and in the national interest, investigate the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa, Mr. Maxwell Kofi Jumah, for his diabolical effort to subvert the State in a tape recording. He has since confirmed that he stands by the content of the tape even as we approach the 2012 elections.

How can anyone not find it dangerously worrying that a sitting member of Parliament, who has sworn an oath to protect the constitution and the State, is heard on tape discussing how he managed to elude police scrutiny to smuggle 30,000 ballot papers and a number of guns into the Tain constituency, in the heat of the third round of the 2008 presidential elections?

The FGJ is certain that Mr. Jumah needs to be investigated because he also stated on the said tape that the Director in charge of IT at the Electoral Commission is a sympathizer of the NDC who has been manipulating figures; is the said Director still at post? The import of this assertion in 2008 has implications for the 2012 elections and the integrity of the Electoral Commission, which must not be taken for granted.

How can we pretend that a man who had attempted what he tried in 2008 is well intentioned in his condemnation of the Electoral Commission Boss, Dr. Afari-Gyan, describing him as a “grossly incompetent person” who is not qualified to hold his position? We note with grave concern, the relentless and baseless attacks on the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Commissioner personally by Mr. Jumah and his associates.

Clearly, it cannot be the EC Boss or the EC, which is pushing Ghanaians to the edge; rather it is the likes of Mr. Jumah who continue to pose a danger to our peace, security and stability. These attacks on the EC sadly fall in line with our fear that there is a concerted effort to rubbish the integrity of our Electoral Commission for selfish partisan purposes.

Even so, we must state our utter disappointment in the deafening silences that has welcomed what we consider a direct affront to our very democracy. On the basis of the developments noted herein, we have no choice but to call on all youth groups, religious bodies and groupings, workers groups, civil society organisations and all Ghanaians who are determined to keep our country united and peaceful to join us in condemnation of the diabolical plans of the MP for Asokwa.

Just as we called on the CID to investigate the raid on Asempa FM, and Mr. Yaw Djan, so too do we feel justified in calling for an investigation of Maxwell Kofi Jumah. We have only one Ghana and have a collective responsibility to protect our democracy, our peace and our stability.

Signed Dr. Clement Apaak Convener, Forum for Governance and Justice - Ghana 020 011 7620