Members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday boycotted the vetting of the Deputy Local Government Minister nominee, Martin Agyei Mensah Korsah.
Justifying the action, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said the decision to boycott the nominee’s vetting was to protest against the unresolved political violence that characterized the Techiman South election declaration during the December polls.
According to the Tamale South MP, Mr. Korsah used violence to deny the people of Techiman South their truly elected MP, Christopher Beyere Baasongti.
“We hold a strong view that through the use and misuse of state security apparatus and state security agencies, he [Martin Agyei Mensah Korsah] procured the seat through violence which resulted in the loss of life. There is no investigation, there is no visit by the Minister for Defence or Interior to commiserate, sympathize and console with the family nor even the contemplation of compensation to the family for those valuable lives lost just for him to emerge as a Member of Parliament.”
The December 7 election was marred with violence which led to the loss of lives of some individuals.
In Techiman South, a misunderstanding ensued over the results when it was declared that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Mr. Korsah had won against Mr. Beyere of the NDC.
Amidst the chaotic scene, two persons were hit by stray bullets when the police and military officers deployed to ensure law and order fired several warning shots to control the crowd following the announcement of the parliamentary election results.
The two people were confirmed dead at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital while an unspecified number of people sustained gunshot wounds.
Speaking to JoyNews, Friday, Mr Haruna Iddrisu noted that the Minority Caucus will not see to the approval of an individual elected through dubious means which escalated into violence.
He said the NDC will protest to the international community and seek justice for the affected families.
“Strongly we are protesting to the international community and the Ghanaian community alike that we detest violence during collation and violence in the determination of who becomes a Member of Parliament. That can not be an acceptable norm of our democratic practice.”
Meanwhile, Martin Agyei Mensah Korsah who appeared before the Appointments Committee on Friday pledged his commitment in seeking justice for the victims and the aggrieved families.
“We regret what happened, we don’t think it should have happened, it appeared reckless and it was unnecessary. It was an election and we don’t think that anybody should have lost his/her life. Unfortunately, that was what happened. We are committed to ensuring that there is justice for all those who lost their lives and those who got injured.
“We have collaborated in ensuring that first and foremost we unify the constituency. Justice goes with that. As I speak I am aware that some investigations which were conducted by the Police, I am told are ready,” he told the Committee.
