Former President Jerry John Rawlings says the country has not done enough to prevent violence perpetrated by agents of the leading political forces in Ghana.
Mr. Rawlings added that persons who are bent on using violence to achieve their aims must be prepared to answer for their actions.
Speaking after visiting the 37 Military Hospital on Monday to visit a victim of the La Bawaleshie shooting incident last Thursday, Flt Lt Rawlings said: “By our actions and omissions, especially after 2008 we contributed immensely to laying the bed we now find ourselves in.”
“We are not doing enough to contain and prevent the use of violence from without but also from within our own,” he added.
One of the victims, Yaro Ishawu was hit by a bullet when armed men believed to be national security operatives stormed the residence of the NDC aspirant for the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election on the day of the polls.
Ishawu, who suffered a broken leg, was subsequently referred to the 37 Military Hospital after first receiving treatment at the Legon Hospital.
The shooting incident took place at the La Bawaleshie polling centre in at East Legon, near the home of National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Delali Kwesi Bempong.
The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, who was serving as an observer in another area of the constituency was also assaulted by some security personnel.
He is seen in a video being struck in the face by two security personnel as he made allegations that someone had been killed in the area.
The NDC withdrew from the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election following the shooting incident.
The observers were concerned with the heavy security presence, noting that “many polling stations had not less than five uniformed security personnel, and in some cases, as high as 15.”
The New Patriotic Party’s parliamentary candidate, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, eventually won the poll with 12, 041 votes, representing 68.30%.
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By: citinewsroom.com | Ghana
