{"id":592608,"date":"2019-02-19T21:51:09","date_gmt":"2019-02-19T21:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"

DSP Samuel Azugu has been testifying at the Emile Short Commission set up to investigate violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election.<\/p>

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Commission of Inquiry has agreed to hear in-camera, invectives used by National Democratic Co"},"modified":"2019-02-19T21:51:09","modified_gmt":"2019-02-19T21:51:09","slug":"slapped-ndc-mps-words-require-in-camera-hearing-witness-tells-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2019\/02\/19\/slapped-ndc-mps-words-require-in-camera-hearing-witness-tells-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"Slapped NDC MP’s words require in-camera hearing – Witness tells Commission"},"content":{"rendered":"

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DSP Samuel Azugu has been testifying at the Emile Short Commission set up to investigate violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-election.<\/p>\n

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Commission of Inquiry has agreed to hear in-camera, invectives used by National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP, Sam George, attracting slaps from a security operative during an ill-fated bye-election in Ayawaso West-Wuogon in Greater Accra region.<\/p>\n

A Commander of a SWAT unit, DSP Samuel Azugu who called for a private hearing explained, the words used are too unpalatable for public hearing.<\/p>\n

\"Emile<\/p>\n

Photo: The witness, DSP Samuel Azugu\u00a0 was asked to write words he says could not be uttered on live TV<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

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Despite the push by the three-member Commission to spill the beans at the televised hearing, DSP Azugu had his way.<\/p>\n

This was after he wrote on paper, words he claims were said by the Ningo-Prampram MP during the Ayawaso West-Wuogon bye-election on January 31.<\/p>\n

What was expected to be a routine by-election at Ayawaso West Wuogon degenerated into another worrying episode of political violence.<\/p>\n

National Security has explained it sent a detachment of its operatives to the house of the NDC candidate, Delali Kwasi Brempong over suspicions, it held a catchment of ammunition.<\/p>\n

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A suspicion which Delali Kwasi Brempong\u00a0has roundly denied.<\/p>\n

The police say shots were fired from the parliamentary candidate\u2019s house but also admitted firing warning shorts which they say, did not hurt anybody.<\/p>\n

At least 15 persons were injured, some from gunshot wounds. Sam George in a video that would later go viral, is seen gesticulating violently before a SWAT vehicle full of operatives.<\/p>\n

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Shortly after, an operative jumps out of the car and slaps the politician at least twice. Others join in assaulting the Ningo-Prapram MP.<\/p>\n

\"Emile<\/p>\n

Explaining this episode during the third day of hearing at the Commission of Inquiry set up to look into the incident, DSP Azugu begged for a private hearing.<\/p>\n

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He said although the NDC MP\u2019s words do not border on national security, \u201cwith all due respect\u201d, the words can affect national cohesion.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I say it, the MP may be attacked by somebody\u2026let me give it to you in-camera\u201d, the SWAT commander said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to be a carrier of a problem,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Emile<\/p>\n

Photo: Chairperson Emile Short was handed a written version of words reportedly said by Sam George<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

Chairperson of the Commission, Justice Emile Short refrained from urging the witness to speak after Azugu wrote what he said were words uttered by the MP.<\/p>\n

Azugu confirmed, the operative who slapped the legislator is under investigations by National Security.<\/p>\n

The National Security Minister on day one of the hearings told the Commission the operative had been identified but not arrested.<\/p>\n

He said it would be interesting to know why he had not been arrested.<\/p>\n

Government which has been roundly condemned by civil society groups, sees the Commission as an important step in addressing the canker of political violence ahead of the 2020 elections.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n