Parliament has summoned some heads of the state security apparatus and ministers responsible for security to apprise themselves about measures being undertaken to restore law and order in Bawku enclave and prosecute perpetrators of the Ablekuma North election re-run violence on July 11.
Parliamentary joint committees, comprising the Defence and Interior, and Security and Intelligence, told the media at Parliament House in Accra on Friday that, the security capos were tasked to expedite action to restore security and safety along Bawku/Bazaw and Tamale/Walewale highways following the killing of innocent persons along those routes.
Mr James Agalga, the Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee, stated that the Committees held meeting with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and ministers of the Interior and Defence due to the escalating conflict in Bawku and recent violence at the Ablekuma North parliamentary election re-run in 19 polling stations.
Mr Agalga, also the Member of Parliament for Builsa North, said the security capos gave the assurance that they were putting in place security strategies along with the Otumfuo-led Mediation Team to restore security and safety in Bawku enclave.
He indicated that the IGP told them that the Ghana Police Service was reviewing a video footage of the violence that occurred at some polling stations in Ablekuma North election re-run and would enable the Service to identify the perpetrators of the violence for their arrest and subsequent prosecution.
Dr Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, the Chairperson of the Security and Intelligence Committee, and MP for Klottey Korle, said it was imperative to resolve the Bawku conflict in earnest since it could have a national spillover.
On the Ablekuma North election skirmishes, she said even though the security capos could not provide timelines for arrest and prosecution, the Committees would engage them from time to time to take progress reports.
Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, a Ranking Member on the Interior and Defence, said political violence was a threat to the country’s fledgling democracy and underscored the need for a bi-partisan approach in resolving political violence.
He said the Akwatia by-election is the next election to take place, therefore it was important to take immediate action on the Ablekuma North violence to serve as a warning to individuals harbouring any plan of causing mayhem.