Mahama’s diplomats ‘film show’ shouldn’t drive away investors – Trade Expert

Trade Expert, Appiah Kusi has debunked assertions John Mahama hosting diplomats at his residence to consume violent imagery and videos of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election won by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Lydia Alhassan will hurt the country.

Government had been peeved by Mr. Mahama’s action describing it as skewed having the potential to scare foreign investors who otherwise had plans of investing in the country.

Mr. Kusi holds that whatever material the diplomats were shown would be processed by them to make an informed decision.

Following the death of incumbent NPP Member of Parliament; Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko who served from 2012 to 2018; his spouse Lydia Alhassan run on the NPP ticket against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate; Delali Kwasi Brempong.

Lydia Alhassan retained the seat for the NPP garnering 68.80 percent of the total votes.

On Election Day however National Security Operatives acting on information privy to them targeted a house near one of the polling centres which they say harboured people and weapons. In inspecting the supposed weapons at the house, the operatives say they were pelted with stones and heard gunshot sounds leading them to use minimum force on some of the inhabitants. The minimum force used comprising slaps, foot kicks and blows by mask wearing men of the SWAT team on some of the men stunned citizens and others leading to an inquiry set up by the President Akufo-Addo headed by Justice Emile Short.

Former President, Mahama in the wake of the violent acts hosted the diplomatic community in Accra to present the opposition NDC’s stance on the violence that characterised the by-elections held on January 31.

He alleged that the video in which men dressed in Police uniform were singing at a funeral could not have been staff members of the Ghana Police Service as the Service’s personnel do not wear ear studs.

In another video, the former president told the diplomats that the same so-called Police officers were brought to provide security for the NPP’s parliamentary candidate, Lydia Alhassan who was the spouse of the former MP, Agyarko.

But government through Information Minister; Kojo Oppong Nkrumah is keen to set the records straight and give its version of events as the government intends writing to the diplomats hosted by President John Mahama.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says none of the claims made by Mr. Mahama concerning the polls and other related matters was accurate.

He believes leaving the matter without clarification will not be to the benefit of the country as the diplomats will keep the false information as fact, leaving them with a bad impression of the country.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah believes Mr. Mahama needs to render an apology as his actions are prejudicial to the work of the Commission of Enquiry set up by President Akufo-Addo to look into the alleged cases of violence that characterised the by-elections.