General News of Wednesday, 5 April 2017

Source: kasapafmonline.com

Akufo-Addo must speak against Rachael Appoh’s attack at Flagstaff House – Pelpuo

Rachael Appoh, former MP-Gomoa Central Rachael Appoh, former MP-Gomoa Central

The Member of Parliament for Wa Central in the Upper West Region, Rashid Pelpuo has asked President Akufo-Addo to condemn and publicly name persons purported to have assaulted the former Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Rachael Appoh.

The former Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Rachael Appoh has accused some National Security operatives of assaulting her in the precincts of Flagstaff House Friday, March 31, 2017.

According to her, she visited the seat of government to follow up on issues related to her ex-gratia package at the office of the Chief of Staff when she was pounced upon by some National Security operatives and brutalized in the process.

Narrating her ordeal to the media, she said she was manhandled and shoved by the National Security operatives, and some other three women who ordered her to leave the building because the place was not NDC office.

Speaking on the issue in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, the Wa Central legislator described the alleged attack as distasteful and called for the President’s intervention.

“The seat of government is besieged by people who are taking the laws into their hands and desecrating the very sacred House that represents the soul and spirit of Ghanaians. But for recent times, it is reflecting differently and we are worried about what is happening. At the time when a former Member of Parliament, a former Deputy Minister of State visited the Flagstaff House and was humiliated and brutalized the way it went, it’s unacceptable. I have a lot of respect for Nana Addo and I will like him to make a statement on this, specifically the President himself has to say something about this.

We’re Ghanaians and to win power means to be humane and bring down yourself to respect the traditions of the people and to respect the laws of the land. It’s time for us to do an in-depth enquiry into who are the people doing these things? Where are their source of strength? What can we do to stop it? It’s important.

However, Mr. Pelpuo encouraged the former MP to launch a formal complaint of the matter to parliament for some investigations to be carried into the matter.

“I’m encouraging the Honourable Member to get back to the House where she just left some few months ago and then request for parliament to do something about it. I know that if that happens and represented by any Member of Parliament that makes a petition to the Speaker, we can delve into this issue and find out exactly why these things are happening in a bi-partisan manner. This is serious, it’s damaging the reputation of Ghanaians, retarding the progress of our democracy and is hurting us a lot.”