Leadership of the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) has asked government to publish the report submitted by the Emile Short Commission on the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence.

The Commission of Inquiry which was set up in February to investigate the chaos that broke out during the 31st January by-election at the La Bawaleshie Presby School polling station, submitted its report to President Akufo-Addo on the 15th of March, 2019.

The report is however yet to be made public after almost a month; a situation the NDC is not happy about.

In a press statement signed by National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, the party is demanding of government to, as a matter of urgency, make the findings of the Commission public noting that the failure to do that up to date is a “blatant disregard for the principles of transparency and accountability that the President swore to uphold”

“What makes this demand imperative is the fact that till date, the perpetrators of the violence at the bye-election who were captured live on videos, are still free and walking the streets of Ghana. What is even more disturbing is that we still do not know the status of the police investigation into the said matter, despite assurances to the country.”

Find the full statement below

PUBLISH EMILE SHORT COMMISSION REPORT NOW

The National Democratic Congress calls on the President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E. Nana Akufo-Addo, to without any delay, publish in full, the report of the Emile Short Commission of Enquiry which was set up by the President to investigate the circumstances surrounding the violence that broke out during the bye-election at Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency on 31st January, 2019.

We recall that the Short Commission presented its report to the President on 15th March, 2019, and yet till date - almost a month, the President for some unknown reason, is sitting on the said report. This is a blatant disregard for the principles of transparency and accountability that the President swore to uphold. In spite of the fact that the NDC boycotted the proceedings of the Commission, we believe that the Ayawaso West Wuogon issue is a matter of intense national and international interest, and that the people of Ghana deserve to know the findings and recommendation of the Commission.

What makes this demand imperative is the fact that till date, the perpetrators of the violence at the bye-election who were captured live on videos, are still free and walking the streets of Ghana. What is even more disturbing is that we still do not know the status of the police investigation into the said matter, despite assurances to the country.

In the circumstances, we call on the President to cause to be published the full report of the Emile Short Commission immediately.

Signed,
SAMMY GYAMFI
National Communication Officer

Issued in Accra, on this 8th day of April, 2019.