Minority Women's Caucus Demands Immediate Action Against President Mahama's Officials Over Electoral Violence

Strategic Insights -

The Minority Women's Caucus in Parliament has strongly condemned the recent electoral violence in the Ablekuma North Constituency, which they describe as the gravest assault on Ghana's democratic values since the return to constitutional rule. The Caucus demands the immediate dismissal of two top officials in President John Mahama's administration, who they claim have endorsed and glorified the violence. They also call for the arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved, as well as a public condemnation of the attacks by the President himself.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Minority Women's Caucus has condemned the electoral violence in Ablekuma North Constituency, describing it as the gravest assault on Ghana's democratic values since the return to constitutional rule.
  • The Caucus demands the immediate dismissal of two top officials in President John Mahama's administration, Dr. Hanna Louisa Bissiw and Malik Basintale, for endorsing and glorifying the violence.
  • The officials in question, who hold senior positions in government, have made statements that condone or praise the violence, with one referring to the perpetrator of a physical attack on Mavis Hawa Koomson as "the Flying Python".
  • The Caucus also calls for the arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the violence, including those who impersonated security officers to intimidate voters.
  • The Ghana Police Service's failure to prevent or respond effectively to the violence is also condemned by the Caucus, with allegations of complicity levelled against Chief Superintendent Lumor Frederick Senanu.
  • The targeting of journalists, including physical assaults on reporters and an attack on a TV station, is described as a direct assault on press freedom and a disturbing sign of attempts to silence independent reportage.
  • The Caucus demands a public condemnation of the attacks by President Mahama, accompanied by an apology to the victims, and calls on all Ghanaians to reject violence, defend constitutional order, and recommit to democratic values.

Statistics:

  • The violence in Ablekuma North Constituency was characterized by coordinated and systematic attempts to dismantle the electoral process through brute force.
  • A total of 8 opposition figures, party agents, and journalists were physically attacked during the violence, including Mavis Hawa Koomson and Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie.
  • The attacks were reported to have taken place at several polling stations, including St. Peter's Society Methodist Church and the Awoshie DVLA polling station.
  • The Ghana Police Service failed to prevent or respond effectively to the violence, despite allegations of complicity against Chief Superintendent Lumor Frederick Senanu.
  • The violence was widely condemned by the Minority Women's Caucus, who described it as a "pattern of electoral violence that threatens to unravel the foundation of Ghana's democracy".

Sources:

  • [Abena Korkor Asante, Member of Parliament for Atiwa West, at a press conference]
  • [Abena Korkor Asante, Member of Parliament for Atiwa West, in a statement]
  • [Minority Women's Caucus press release]