AWW violence: Sam George to sue over gov’t White Paper

The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram has revealed he is filing a suit against President Akufo-Addo and government on the white paper issued following recommendations of the Ayawaso West Wuogon violence Commission.

He said the process will be initiated next week.

Government set up a Justice Short led commission to investigate the incident and make recommendations on how to deal with electoral violence.

Months after the committee presented its report, government rejected many of the recommendations in its white paper.

Today, January 31 marks exactly one year since the incident occurred.

Speaking on Starr Midday news after an event to mark one year of the violent by-election, Sam George said in consultation with his lawyers and party, they will be filing a suit against the president and his government on the White paper.

He said “the white paper that he issued has no basis with the law, and we will be challenging this before the law court and ask the law court to make a determination on same.”

When asked to highlight the exact parts he has issues with he said “on the validity of certain comments that have been made by His Excellency the president through his Attorney General. One of the issues that readily comes to mind is the defence of provocation that is cited by the president as a valid defence on the basis of which he rubbished the recommendation of prosecution of one Suleiman Mohammaed”.

He established that “there are a number of issues that have been raised  by government in the white paper that have formed the basis for them rubbishing the recommendations of the Emile short commission and we will be putting all of this before the law court to make a determination on the validity  of this position.”

Meanwhile, speaking at the same event, Editor of the Insight Newspaper Kwesi Pratt accused the police of not providing security for the event.

He said “yesterday I saw a post on WhatsApp which was a directive from the hierarchy from the Ghana police service instructing all police personnel not to provide security for this event.”

“If the police is not providing security, what us the police there for? What was the police service seeking to do? Was the police service not sending a signal to hoodlums that they can come here and do as they please and that they police will not act.,” he added.

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh