PLAYBACK: Newsfile on Joynews

Saturday's edition of Newsfile promised and delivered insightful details as issues which made headlines in the course of the week were discussed.

Panelists shared views on the Commissioning of a Committee to probe Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election violence as well as the emergence of political Vigilantism as far as the future security of election 2020 is concerned

The 3-hour discussion saw the likes of Col. Festus Aboagye, Nana Kwabena Aborampah Mensah, Kwesi Aning and Martin Kpebu who made vital contributions to the subject matter

Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu opined that the Commission of Inquiry set up to probe the recent violence is a step I the right direction

He outlined that people who took part in all forms of election violence in the Ghana’s history were punished according to law so it is important that perpetrators of the Ayawaso election violence should not be allowed to go scot free.

“We should be informed by history as well in matters like this. If you look at our history, people who were engaged in electoral violence have been punished before. For instance in the Wechi by-elections in 1959, UGCC supporters threw stones at CPP supporters and in the process Gyamfi’s stone killed one person. He went through trail and was convicted for manslaughter” he stated

He expressed confidence in the individuals stirring the affairs of the commission adding their work could be the beginning of the essential steps towards disbanding political vigilantes that threaten the survival of the country’s democracy.

Security analyst, Kwesi Anning also stressed on the fact that members of the committee should be very transparent in order to fulfil expectations of Ghanaians

He expressed, they should be most willing to deal with the recommendations regarding the issue at hand diligently.



In relation to that, Mr Annin suggested the ‘’one month’’ period offered the commission is ‘horribly’ short considering the huge nature of work that needs to be done

“I think the one month term given them is too short because if I take identifying persons would take considerably amount of work. They may have investigative powers, solid forensic support, they need access to mobile phones, laptops, networks that can support them with recruitment, funding, fractionalization and so on. I hope they have a supporting infrastructure and a body of knowledge they can draw from. Based on what we know about the four individuals, putting the facts on the table should not be a problem. They should be willing to deal with the recommendations’’. He analysed.