Okudzato And Other MP Petition CHRAJ Over 2020 Election-Related Deaths
Two NDC members of parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah have jointly petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the deaths that occurred during last year’s elections.
Hon. Kwaku Citizen
Two NDC members of parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah have jointly petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the deaths that occurred during last year’s elections.
Their complaints are specifically lodged against the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Defence, the Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Armed Forces.
The complainants in this matter are Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region and Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah is also a Member of Parliament for the Ellembele Constituency in the Western Region of the Republic of Ghana.
“The Minister for the Interior is the appointee of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana and has oversight responsibility for the Ghana Police service.
“The Minister of Defence is the appointee of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana and has oversight responsibility for the Ghana Armed Forces.
“The Inspector-General of the Ghana Police Service is under article 202 of the 1992 Constitution, the head of the Police Service ‘responsible for the operational control’ and ‘the administration of the Police Service.
“The Chief of Defence Staff is under article 213 of the 1992 Constitution, responsible for the operational control and command of the Ghana Armed Forces. During the general elections held in the Republic of Ghana on or about December 7, 2020, the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces established a National Election Security Taskforce (NESTF) to support the effort to ensure smooth and transparent conduct of the said elections. This was necessary for safeguarding the democratic values and principles of free and fair elections.
“This effort was also necessary to provide citizens of the Republic of Ghana including voters with security during the conduct of the elections. Apart from the NESTF, there were other members of the Police Service and Ghana Armed Forces who played diverse roles during the period of the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
“The complaint is restricted to the Techiman South, Odododiodio, Ablekuma Central, and Savelugu constituencies in the Bono East, Greater Accra, and Northern Regions of the Republic of Ghana respectively.
“The complaint relates to how the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces discharged their constitutional and statutory mandates in the constituencies mentioned above.
