We boycotted swearing in because the elections was marred by violence – Minority explains

The Minority in Parliament have explained that, they boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Alhassan because they did not want to give credence to her victory in the by-election on Thursday, 31 January 2019 which was characterised by violence.

The election was marred by violent attacks on some National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters.

Heavily-armed National Security operatives shot and wounded the opposition supporters at the private residence of the NDC’s candidate about an hour into the by-election.

Today Tuesday, 5 February 2019 the Minority protested in parliament with placards, one of which had the inscription “bloody widow” on it.

The Minority in a statement said: “In furtherance, we have staged a walkout in order not to give credence nor legitimacy to that bloody election and her subsequent so-called swearing in.

“It is our sincere view that the memory of our departed colleague does not deserve this sort of bloody legacy even if Madam Lydia Alhassan and her collaborators think otherwise.

“As a sequel to our boycott, we are marching immediately to the Ghana Police Service Headquarters to demand justice. We are outraged that five clear days after the attack on our colleague and other victims which was well captured by the media and same being in wide circulation on social media, not a single arrest of these known bandits have been effected. We shall continue to demand concrete action no matter how long and how hard our quest shall be.”

BELOW IS THE FULL MINORITY STATEMENT:

The Minority in Parliament has this morning began a series of democratic actions to protest against the State-sponsored violence and terror that was unleashed on innocent unarmed citizens including our colleague, the Honourable Member for Ningo-Prampram, Mr. Samuel Nartey George during the bloody Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election of January 31, 2019.

It is our strong conviction that violence and State-orchestrated terror has no place in our democratic dispensation.

The preamble of the Constitution of Ghana makes a solemn declaration and affirmation on the ideals that we must commit to – “The protection and preservation of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms, Unity and Stability for our Nation.”

Ghana has hitherto been a beacon and a reference point in the sub-region for our enviable democratic credentials.

As legislators, we do not only condemn the despicable terror of last Thursday, we are resolved to rise up to our obligations under Article 41 (b) that calls on every citizen – “to uphold and defend this Constitution and the law.”

To this end therefore, we reiterate our refusal to recognise the illegitimate winner of that bloody by-election as declared by the incompetent and complicit Electoral Commission.

In furtherance, we have staged a walkout in order not to give credence nor legitimacy to that bloody election and her subsequent so-called swearing in.

It is our sincere view that the memory of our departed colleague does not deserve this sort of bloody legacy even if Madam Lydia Alhassan and her collaborators think otherwise.

As a sequel to our boycott, we are marching immediately to the Ghana Police Service Headquarters to demand justice. We are outraged that five clear days after the attack on our colleague and other victims which was well captured by the media and same being in wide circulation on social media, not a single arrest of these known bandits have been effected.

We shall continue to demand concrete action no matter how long and how hard our quest shall be.

The Minority holds President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as Commander-in-chief and Chairman of the National Security Council fully responsible for the 31st January bloodbath especially when his Minister of State for National Security, Mr Bryan Acheampong has publicly admitted that National Security under the chairmanship of President Akufo-Addo deployed and supervised the broad daylight barbarism on the very Ghanaians President Akufo-Addo was elected to protect.

The Minority hereby serves notice that we shall roll out series of further actions until a national enquiry is commissioned and until the perpetrators including the masked cowards and bloodthirsty hoodlums are brought to justice.

**Read and issued by the Minority Leadership at the Ghana Police Headquarters today 5th February 2019.**