Sam George's 'inappropriate, ill-advised' conduct endangered his own life – Short Commission report

Ningo Prampram MP Mr Sam Nartey George put his own life in danger with his conduct at the “highly charged environment” at La-Bawaleshie during the gun-riddled Aywaso West Wuogon by-election, according to the Short Commission of Inquiry report, which described the lawmaker’s conduct as “inappropriate and ill-advised”.

Mr George was slapped in the face by a national security operative identified as Mr Sulemana Mohammed during the gun melee at La-Bawaleshie which injured 16 supporters of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The MP had confronted the operatives about “killing a man in his own house”.

Mr Sulemana, who appeared before the Justice Emile Short Commission of Inquiry which probed the by-election violence, told the Commission on Friday, 8 March 2019 that he hit Mr George because the legislator hurled tribalistic invectives at him.

Mr Sulemana told the Commission that he did not know Mr Nartey George was an MP at the time of the incident.

After he was made aware by the Commission that Mr George is an MP, Mr Sulemana said Mr George’s behaviour during the by-election did not portray him as such.

However, Mr Sulemana said he regretted assaulting the MP.

"My Lord, I was guilty. I regret what I did. Whenever you err, what you need to say is 'I'm sorry and I will not do that again'", he said.

He continued: "When you offend somebody and ask for forgiveness and it comes from your heart then that person will forgive you".

In the Commission’s final report submitted to the president, it said: “The Commission notes that members of the SWAT team committed criminal assault on members of the crowd. In its assessment, the Commission notes that some of these incidents of assaults were committed while the victims were in flight and fleeing from the SWAT team who were given chase.

“A Member of Parliament, Samuel Nartey George, who was at the electoral grounds when the incident took place, was assaulted by the said Mohammed Sulemana. While confirming the incident of assault, Sulemana informed the Commission that he slapped the person he did not know was a member of parliament because the person insulted him and his ethnic group. He further explained that had he known he was a member of parliament, he would not have slapped him.

“The Commission notes that the entire encounter between the said Sulemana and the said Honorable Mr Sam George resulting in the slap administered by the said Sulemana, was regrettable.

“In this connection, the Commission notes the reaction of the said Sulemana Mohammed in responding to an alleged insult with a slap was unprofessional and must be condemned.

“The Commission further notes that the behaviour of Mr Sam George within the context of a highly charged environment was somewhat inappropriate and ill-advised and could even have endangered his own safety.”