Short Commission: Government's white paper can result in vengeance – Former Secretary to IGP

A former Executive Secretary to the Inspector General of Police, Superintendent Peter Lanchene Toobu (Rtd.), has condemned the Akufo-Addo administration for disagreeing with some important portions of the Emile Short Commission Report, emanating from the political violence in the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.

The retired police officer noted that the scenes of chaos and brutality that characterised the January 30 by-election demanded that the government take drastic steps to get perpetrators of the heinous crime sanctioned as the Commission of Inquiry recommended.

Speaking at a forum organised by the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations Against Political Vigilantism, Mr Tuubo described the government’s stance on the report as unfortunate, saying the white paper is “not white enough.”

“I’m sure all of you have realized that the people who were harmed or injured during the Ayawaso West Wougon are still in pain. We have not been able to truly heal them…This is just waiting for us. Vengeance can come. But what we are saying is that as a country, let’s hold the bull by the horn and say it as it is,” he added.

His comment was premised on the fact that the government had rejected about 50% of the recommendations the commission tasked to look into circumstances leading to the violence that characterised the by-elections made.

One of the recommendations the Commission suggested which the government is yet to sanction was the prosecution of the SWAT team member who slapped Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George.

Government also disagreed with the part of the report which said the brutality happened in an area close to a polling station and the residence of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate, Delali Brempong. But the Akufo-Addo government said it relied on the Electoral Commission’s testimony that the violence did not affect the voting process at the closest polling station.

At least 5 persons were injured when the violence broke out.

But at the forum to discuss the election related violence and how to curb it, Mr. Tuubo warned that the failure of the government to fully accept the report and ensure justice for the casualties can ignite reprisals in the future.