The government has issued a White Paper and published the report of the Emile Short Commission which investigated the violence which characterised the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency by-election early this year.
Government, in its White Paper, declined the commission’s proposal to prosecute the National Security operative who slapped the Member of Parliament during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.
The violence which broke out in one polling station during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election in January, saw a National Security operative slapping Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George.
The three-member Short Commission which investigated the violence recommended that the operative, Mohammed Sulemana, must be prosecuted “for the offence of assault, to wit, slapping Mr Samuel George.”
But the government in its White Paper has rejected the recommendation noting that the facts presented by the commission supported “a valid defence of provocation for the said assault [by Mohammed Sulemana].”
The government disagreed with the commissions finding that “there is a lack of clarity of responsibility and roles as well as lines of reporting”.
Few mutinies after Nana Addo had published the reports Ghanaians on social media have been reacting. Some are mocking the MP what they describe as ‘chopping free slaps’ other have emboldened the MP to challenge the white paper issuance.
Reactions below
Me: So Sam George the Slap u chop make kwa ??
— M E G ®️?? (@MegPrinceGh) September 19, 2019
Sam George:?? pic.twitter.com/jrXV0bykjX
So Sam George chop free slaps just like that.
— Your Sins (@Smithasante2029) September 19, 2019
Eiiiiiiii ?????? pic.twitter.com/vnIJjlKSAt
Ghana is a funny country. The government has rejected the recommendations of the commission of enquiry for Ayawaso Wagoun election reports,and says the guy who slapped Sam George needs not be persecuted because he reacted as a result of provocation. Are we safe?
— Nii Adjetey Cleland ??????™ (@adjetey_cleland) September 19, 2019
Sulemana’s slap “valid defence” to Sam George’s “inappropriate”, “ill-advised” behaviour – Gov’thttps://t.co/5eLYxA8df1 pic.twitter.com/kNjZT96DoP
— #AccraStretch (@Class913fm) September 19, 2019
Officer who slapped Sam George to walk free as Gov’t rejects some findings of Short c’ssion https://t.co/2UZu8Tt6rR pic.twitter.com/XvEIY2sdW9
— GOB News Portal (@gobnewsportal) September 19, 2019
Sam George isn’t an arrogant person, Seriously I cannot comprehend what in God’s name were those unconstitutional state machineries sent there for? He needed to talk and that was part of his duties there as an observer..I know those thugs won’t be punished anyways
— Jonathan Sandish (@JSandish) September 19, 2019
Hon. Sam George, doesn’t need to be prosecuted, contrary to the opinion of the commission.
— Angela Bamford (@Angelabamfordgh) September 19, 2019
So we ask, How does the rejection of this recommendation among others, from the Emile shorte commission review by the government, affect security & the fight against vigilantism?
It won’t be Sam George next time – Social media users ‘warn’ Akufo-Addo over release of AWW abuser https://t.co/smkegR2rcZ
— Odartey (@odarteynoah) September 19, 2019
@UmaruSanda @Citi973
— Future President (@BismarkDanso20) September 19, 2019
So Sam George do aaaa, they slap am free!!!! #citinewsroom
Akufo Addo aka Clearing Agent has rejected Emile Short C’ssion recommendation to prosecute Mohammed Sulemana the hoodlum who assaulted Hon. Sam George during Ayawaso West Wagon by-election violence. Government described the assault as
— Baba_Musah_X (@babamusah08) September 19, 2019
“Valid defense of provocation” ????
By: Joseph Nii Ankrah