The Jean Mensah led-Electoral Commission has inarguably failed its first major test of organizing a violent free and peaceful by-election at the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency.
The EC Chairperson, Mrs. Jean Mensah had earlier promised to conduct a more credible by-election in an interview on Class Fm on Thursday.
She described the Ayawaso by-election as the first major test for 2019 but her hopes to preside over a more peaceful election was shattered after some armed men believed to be members of vigilante groups, Invisible Force of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) fired guns at eight (8) NDC supporters.
Six persons are confirmed injured by the NDC Chairman and rushed to the 37 military hospital for medical attention, while two others are reported dead.
File photo
The heavily built giant group dressed in black with face masks allegedly attacked the residence of the NDC Parliamentary Candidate, Kwasi Delali Brempong where eight (8) persons believed to be NDC supporters were shot. The NDC MP for Ningo Prampram, Sam George was also assaulted by those men in black.
Those who sustained the gun wounds according to the National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo included some polling agents of the opposition party. He says those men were in National Security apparels and blamed the Inspector General of Police of negligence.
Following the atrocities the opposition NDC has officially withdrawn from the ongoing Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election. He said the party cannot put the lives of its members on the line for political power or allow them to be subjected to uncontrolled assaults, molestation and shooting.
The NDC leadership claim their Parliamentary candidate, Kwasi Delali Brempong was targeted by those men but for the timely intervention of the police saved the situation.
This incidence contradicts the earlier statement by the Police to ensure adequate security in the constituency.
That notwithstanding, the by-election is still ongoing. It is not clear whether indeed the NDC has completely withdrawn their agents from the various polling stations in line with their decision to boycott the exercise.
The EC Chairperson, Jean Mensah has come out to condemn the incident and called for calm to ensure the exercise continues.
, December 18, 2019