Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu is lamenting the deteriorating security situation in Bawku in the Upper East region and the government and the security agencies not to take the protracted conflict in that part of the country very lightly.
The renewed chieftaincy clash in Bawku has led to the loss of several lives and the destruction of property.
The conflict resurfaced some few weeks ago after sporadic shootings in parts of the town following attempts to perform final funeral rites for a Chief who died about 41 years ago.
It had also placed a total ban on all persons in the afore-mentioned communities and their environs from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapons.
This resulted in a curfew being placed on the entire township and a ban on smock wearing, the REGSEC in the area explained that “This was necessitated by the fact that criminals or unscrupulous elements hide arms and ammunitions in smock and attack opponents or innocent civilians.”
On the floor of Parliament today, Tuesday, February 2, 2022, the Tamale South MP brought the conflict before the attention of the House and narrated how frightened he was by what he saw in the area during his last visit.
“…Let’s not take the matter in Bawku lightly, on two occasions I was asked that I can’t enter here or go there. That is the extent of the heat manifesting in excessive arms in wrong hands and citizens are just sitting across, not relating to each other as they used to. Driving back, I have been frightened by the deteriorating situation in Bawku, it must receive the necessary and urgent attention from the Minister of Interior and probably for National Security,” Haruna Iddrisu said.
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[3:44 pm, 02/03/2022] Ottoman: It’s ridiculous to say NDC’s petition to Commonwealth attacks Ghana’s sovereignty – Sammy Gyamfi – THENEWSROOMONLINE
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The Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has challenged the Attorney General’s claim that the party’s petition to the Commonwealth Secretariat to probe alleged human rights abuses under the Akufo-Addo government threatens Ghana’s sovereignty.
He said it is “ridiculous” and “laughable” to make such a claim.
The NDC has petitioned the Commonwealth Secretariat to investigate and subsequently sanction the current administration over what the party calls bad governance and abuse of human rights.
“Since assuming the reins of power in 2016, the message of physical violence against political opponents that Nana Addo preached and championed before the 2016 general elections has turned into structural, institutional and systematic forms of violence in the form of human rights violations, harassment, and political persecutions against members and supporters of the NDC,” Mr Asiedu Nketiah, NDC General Secretary said at a press conference.
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame in responding to the development said the opposition party’s move constitutes an attempt to undermine Ghana’s sovereignty.
He said the party is fond of running to international organisations to escape lawful prosecutions.
But Sammy Gyamfi, while speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday said “the claim that our petition to the Commonwealth of nations to investigate cases of gross human right violations by the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia administration is an attack on the sovereignty of this country is very ridiculous and laughable.”
He argued that while it admits that the Commonwealth of Nations as a body cannot impose decisions on Ghana, it can caution or advise the government if it confirms the allegations of human rights abuses which are against the values of the body.
“Ghana is an independent and sovereign country, but we have voluntarily joined the Commonwealth of Nations and we have been committed to the values of the Commonwealth and one of those values is the respect of personal liberties and fundamental human rights. The Commonwealth of Nations cannot make any decision that will be binding on our courts, but at least, they have the voice and if this government and the leaders still have the conscience, we think that they will listen to them,” he said.
He said Ghana risks being suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations if the organization confirms the abuses in the country and notes the failure of the government to address the issues.
“If they [government] decides not to listen to them, Commonwealth of Nations can choose to suspend Ghana as they did to Zimbabwe a few years ago, and I pray we don’t get there,” he cautioned.