Ayawaso Violence: I Did Not Authorize SWAT Operation – Bryan Acheampong

Minister Designate for Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong has maintained that he did not authorize the SWAT Operation that led to the Ayawaso West Wuogon Violence.

Mr Acheampong, the then Minister of State in charge of National Security at the time of the incident, reiterated that his name was not mentioned anywhere in the 500-page report submitted by the Emile Short Commission.

“In fact, if you look at the findings, except for Chapter 3, Findings and Recommendations, which states that the SWAT team was deployed and commanded by a police officer named DSP Samuel Azugu under the authority of the Director of Operations of the National Security Secretariat…There is no evidence to suggest that I was responsible for the SWAT Team.

“So, if a finding is made that the people were sent to Ayawaso under the command of a police officer and that command was from a Director of Operations…where does it end and why will they come and end it at my doorsteps considering not being part of the operation, not being part of my command.

“I did not authorize that operation and that is why it was easy for the white paper to say that they reject the recommendation because it is without basis,” he stressed.

He was responding to a question about his involvement in the violence when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting on Monday.

Describing the Ayawaso West Wuogon violence as a blot on Ghana’s democracy, the Minister-Designate prayed that the unfortunate incident that led to the injury of 18 persons does not occur again.

He expressed sympathy for the victims of the Ayawaso West Wuogon elections.

“I sympathize with those who were wounded on that day. Indeed when I was there at the Ministry of National Security I ensured that all those who were wounded were treated at the 37 Military Hospital and all expenses of such were paid by the state,” he added.

What happened during the Ayawaso West Wuogon elections

Constituents in Ayawaso West Wuogon went to the polls on January 31, 2019, to elect a Member of Parliament after the sitting MP, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko died.

The election was marred by a shooting incident at the residence of the NDC Parliamentary candidate, Kwasi Delali Brempong, which resulted in injuries to 18 persons.

Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George was also assaulted by a well-built man who claimed to be a member of the national security.

The violence that characterized the day was cited by the NDC as the reason for its withdrawal from the polling stations.

A commission of inquiry led by Justice Emile Short was constituted to investigate the incident.

The commission at the end of its work made some recommendations to the government to among others prosecute the individual who assaulted the MP.

But the government in its white paper to the recommendations said the man who assaulted the sitting MP was provoked by him [MP, Sam George].