La Bawaleshie not connected to Ayawaso by-election – Interior Minister

The Emile Short Commission of Enquiries upon inviting the Minister of Interior Hon. Ambrose Dery were informed that the skirmishes that took place at the La Bawaleshie polling station during the by-election has nothing to do with the elections.

Speaking to the Commission on Thursday, Mr Dery had indicated that the armed men who stormed the residence of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Delali Kwesi Brempong were there for a different business.

He said,“It was not related to the election operation”.

He added that, the Ayawaso by-elections had had nothing to do with the violence and that the incident occurred at a residence and no where close to the polling station.

Ambrose Dery was speaking on the first day of the enquiries at Osu Castle in Accra.

Meanwhile in a related article, the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Jean Mensah has stated that the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-elections was run smoothly.

Mr Dery added that he was informed that the election would be manned by the Police and Immigration Services and “that is why I do not feel it deviates from the briefing I got” he said.
He added that the police are investigating the violence however.

He also told the commission that the vehicle that the armed men used on their operation does not belong to the police but was branded SWAT.

The commission has a month to finish its work after which the Presidency is expected to act on its recommendations.