The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly condemned the arrest of Collins Dauda, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi South, over the Kukuom disturbance.
It will be recalled that the police indicated that the legislator had been arrested for his involvement in a fracas that ensued during the ongoing limited voter registration exercise on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
One person sustained an injury and was subsequently hospitalized after chaos at a registration centre.
Preliminary investigations by the police implicated Collins Dauda in the unrest that disrupted the registration process.
However, the party clarified in a statement that the Asutifi South MP committed no crime as he was not even present at the Kukuom registration centre.
“We wish to place on record that, at no point was the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, Hon. Collins Dauda present at the Kukuom registration centre on Saturday, 11th May 2024. Contrary to the claim by the police, Hon. Collins Dauda was busily monitoring the ongoing registration exercise in his constituency, Asutifi South and was nowhere near the incident at Kukuom.
“The NDC condemns in no uncertain terms the unprofessional haste of the Ghana Police Service to publish the so-called arrest of the Member of Parliament for Asutifi South and create the impression all over the media as though he has committed a crime. For emphasis, Hon. Collins Dauda has committed no crime,” the statement said.
According to the NDC, the disturbance was orchestrated by thugs associated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and NDC members were compelled to retaliate in defence of their members who came under attack.
Therefore, the NDC demands Collins Dauda’s immediate release and urges law enforcement to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the disturbances.
The NDC reiterated its commitment to peace in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
“We are a law-abiding political party committed to respecting the laws of the country. Our Parliamentary Candidates, agents and supporters throughout the country have so far comported themselves in the ongoing exercise, even in the face of extreme provocation and in some cases, violent attacks,” the statement added.
Below is the statement to that effect.