Two MPs petition CHRAJ to probe IGP, CDS over election deaths
Two Members of Parliament (MP) have petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to probe some individuals in relation to deaths that occurred during the December 2020 polls.
The North Tongu MP. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the MP for Ellembele, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, lodged the complaint against the Ministers of Interior and Defence, the Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service and the Chief of Defence Staff of Ghana Armed Forces.
The petition largely centres on events that happened at the Techiman South, Odododiodio, Ablekuma Central and Savelugu constituencies during the December 7, 2020 polls.
It also captures the manner in which the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces discharged their constitutional and statutory mandates in the said constituencies.
The legislators pointed that a review of the documents and video footage accompanying their complaint show that the victims were indeed injured and killed by the direct conduct or actions of uniformed officers and the National Election Security Taskforce (NESTF) during the elections.
They believe CHRAJ has the mandate under article 218 of Ghana’s constitution to investigate violations of fundamental human rights, abuses of power, injustice and unfair treatment.
RELIEFS SOUGHT FROM THE COMMISSION
A. Investigation into the matters complained about.
- In terms of the Commission’s mandate provided for under article 218 (a) of the constitution, the complaint demands an investigation into the:
—Violations of fundamental rights and freedoms of the persons mentioned in the complaint
—The unfair treatment meted out to the said persons
—-The injustice caused to them, and
—The abuse of power clearly exhibited by the Ghana Police
—Service and Ghana Armed Forces.
2. The complainants demand that the Commission conduct investigations into the NESTF’s activities during the December 2020 elections at the Techiman South, Odododiodio, Ablekuma Central and Savelugu constituencies in the Bono East, Greater Accra Region, and Northern Regions of the Republic of Ghana.
3. The complainants also demand that the investigation identify officials of the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Armed Forces responsible for the unlawful acts the subject matter of the present complaint and the persons under whose command and instructions they acted.
4. The complainants finally demand that the investigation identify the role played by the Ministers of the Interior and Defence in terms of instructions and orders in relation to the conduct resulting in this complaint, and the lack of leadership or proper oversight to prevent, stop or respond in a manner to curb the violations that have occurred.
B. Compensation
In terms of the Commission’s mandate under Article 218(i) the Complainants demand that the Commission recommend that the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Armed Forces negotiate and reach an agreed sum as compensation with the victims and in appropriate cases, their personal representatives, or in the alternative, that the Commission recommends an amount as compensation to the victims or families of the victims.
C. Disciplinary action and prosecution
The complainants also pray that upon identifying the officials responsible for the acts as the subject matter of the instant complaint, that the Commission recommends appropriate disciplinary sanctions in accordance with law.
Names of all the deceased and injured are stated in the petition which was submitted to CHRAJ on Wednesday, August 25.
The MPs also attached medical reports as well as video footage of some of the incidents as evidence to CHRAJ.