{"id":599105,"date":"2019-03-14T17:57:46","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T17:57:46","guid":{"rendered":"

Emile Short presenting the report to the president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo<\/p>

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The Emile Short Commission which investigated the violence that marred the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election has presented its report to the President.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emile Short, the Chairman of the Commission, said he was confident\u00a0President Akufo-Addo will find their findings and recommendations useful in shaping reforms for the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Presenting the report Thursday at the Jubilee House he thanked the President \u201cfor this initiative, and commend your resolve to stamp out the evil of electoral violence from our politics.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

On his part, President Akufo-Addo thanked the Members of the Commission, and all others associated with its work, for agreeing to provide this service to the people of our country. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Emile<\/span><\/p>\n

On his part, President Nana Akufo-Addo thanked the Commission and its Executive Secretary for executing their mandate expeditiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe circumstances under which the unfortunate incident occurred might have proved somewhat difficult for others, but you did not hesitate to accept the assignment and the work that you have done has been in the public domain. The whole country has seen the transparent nature of the proceedings and we have all followed it, obviously with great care and attention. I am happy that at long last it has come to an end,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

He <\/span>added,<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u201cto the extent that the recommendations of this Commission can help us advance the course of law and order in our country, I\u00a0welcome it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have the responsibility of ensuring the maintenance of law order of our country, and that responsibility is not one which can be abdicated on any occasion, he said. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Emile<\/span><\/p>\n

The Short Commission was set up February 6, to produce a report in a month. This follows violence that marred the January 31, by-election at Ayawaso West Wuogon. <\/span><\/p>\n

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There was an\u00a0<\/span>unbri<\/span><\/span><\/span>assault on civilians by masked men as the police appeared helpless in controlling the situation at the La Bawaleshie polling stations. Ningo-Prampram NDC MP Sam George was slapped while at least 15 people were reported injured.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Commission which was made up a former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Emile Short, law professor, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, former Inspector-General of Police, Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, had a former Dean of GIMPA school of law, Kofi Abotsi as its Executive Secretary. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Their mandate was to among other things unravel the circumstances which led to the violence and make\u00a0recommendations to forestall future occurrence. <\/span><\/p>\n

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The Commission heard testimonies from critical actors in that by-election, including the Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu, the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah, General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu and the Member of Parliament for the Nimgo Prampram Constituency, Sam George.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n