Awutu Senya shooting “a breach of the Vigilante Act” – EC
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has condemned the violence which marred registration at the Steps to Christ registration centre in Kasoa at the Central Region.
A scuffle between incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) who doubles as the Minister for Special Development Initiatives, Mavis Hawa Koomson and her opponent, Philis Naa Koryoo, resulted in gunshots and the burning of motorbikes.
The EC said in a release that it had “noted with concern some acts of violence at some registration centres across the country in the form of physical and verbal attacks on its officials.”
The election management body raised concerns about the Rambo-style invasion of “unidentifiable gunmen” who “attacked officials at the centre and disrupted the process by firing gunshots.”
The EC described the action as “a breach of the Vigilante and Related Offenses Act, 2019 Act 999. The Act seeks to disband violent activities of Political Parties and makes political vigilantism an offence punishable by a prison term.”
They have therefore called on security agencies to investigate the incident and prosecute offenders.
The Commission reminded the public, particularly political party agents, that any person who wishes to challenge an applicant’s ineligibility must fill a Challenge Form, which will then be presented to the District Registration Review Committee for a ruling on the matter.
Political party agents are therefore warned to desist from using violence in resolving such matters.
Hawa Koomson admits firing a gun
Meanwhile, Ms Hawa Koomson has confessed that he fired shots at the registration centre.
“It was my gun. I fired my own warning shot,” the cabinet minister told Adom News in an interview monitored by theghanareport.com.
Ms Hawa Koomson accused Ms Koryoo of busing some people into the constituency to register.
She discounted reports that her men carried guns to the registration spot and assaulted people who had converged to register.
She claimed her police escort was not with her at the time of the incident, around 9 am Monday and fired the shots because “my peoples’ lives were in danger. I wanted to scare them”.
The 54-year-old former teacher explained that she carryed the licensed gun for self-protection and used it because police were not at the centre to restore peace and order.
According to eyewitnesses account, at least 15 men stormed the venue and tried to sack some applicants, suspected to have come from outside the region.
Meanwhile, police have arrested four suspects in connection with the incident. An investigation has begun and the law enforcement body is expected to provide further details in the coming days.
NDC blames NPP for the chaos
Meanwhile, the NDC Parliamentary candidate, Ms Koryoo, has criticised the actions of the MP.
“The situation here is like a war zone. What happened was that Hawa Koomson, the Minister for Special Development came here and instructed her boys to shoot and kill people at the centre……because the bullets can be found in people homes and shops, so it was a targeted shooting” she, alleged. “This is not an attack on the NDC, but an attack on Ghanaians and the good people of Kasoa are discerning and will reward Honourable Hawa Koomson come December 7″.
“This is an attack on the good people of Ghana, and we are tired of these hooligans as the police look unconcerned…we will rise up and defend ourselves” she warned.
The registration exercise is for the acquisition of new voter identification cards, which will be used in the upcoming 2020 elections.
The exercise has entered the fourth phase with over 7.2million registrations.
Eligible people are required to register at centers closer to their residents, and political parties have been vigilant about the registration of outsiders in their constituencies which could favour their rivals.
Allegations of busing people to register have been rife at several centers including areas in Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions,
Member of Parliament for Asawase Constituency Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak has been vocal about attempts to register people at centers within his jurisdiction even though the applicant sdo not live in his constituency.
The registration exercise, which began on June 30 will end on August 6 by which time the EC hopes to have achieved its target of issuing up to 15 million Ghanaians with voter ID cards.
Needless show of force by an MP.