The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has received the report of the Emile Short Commission of Inquiry established to inquire into the incidents of violence that occurred during the 31st January, 2019, by-election in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency.
Presenting the report to President Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, 14th March, 2019, the Chairperson of the Commission, Justice Emile Short, was confident that “you (President Akufo-Addo) will find these findings and recommendations useful in shaping reforms for the future”.
He thanked the President “for this initiative, and commend your resolve to stamp out the evil of electoral violence from our politics.”
On his part, President Akufo-Addo thanked the Members of the Commission, and all others associated with its work, for agreeing to provide this service to the people of our country.
“The circumstances under which the unfortunate incident occurred might have proved somewhat difficult for others, but you did not hesitate to accept the assignment and the work that you have done has been in the public domain. The whole country has seen the transparent nature of the proceedings and we have all followed it, obviously with great care and attention. I am happy that at long last it has come to an end,” he said.
The President assured that “the findings and the recommendations that have been made will, of course, be given the greatest attention by me and the members of my government.”
He continued, “We have a responsibility of ensuring the maintenance of law and order in our country and that responsibility is not one that can be abdicated on any occasion, so to the extent that this commission can help us, its findings and recommendations can help us advance the course of law and order in our country, I welcome it. It will be the subject of close study.”
The President was hopeful that “the recommendations and findings will help us on the road to ridding our nation of this canker of electoral and politically related violence, as has, unfortunately, become part of the culture of our politics. It is regrettable that that should be the case, but there it is.”
He reassured the people of Ghana Government’s continued determination to ensuring that they “can go about their normal duties, including exercising their constitutional and political rights in an atmosphere of peace and freedom.”
