Government’s Spokesperson on Governance and Security, Mr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has said that officials of the Ghana Police Service have the liberty to reopen investigations into the conduct of Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East constituency, when she openly fired warning shots at a registration centre in 2020.
According to Palgrave, the public is encouraged to initiate processes for investigations of this nature to commence if they notice that nothing has been done about the instance of politicians and individuals flaunting guns in public.
Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the Parliamentary Candidate for Awutu Senya East on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was arrested and detained on Friday, June 7 by the Ghana Police Service.
The police, did not give any reasons for her arrest but all indications pointed to the fact that her arrest was in connection to the gun that was found in her car on Sunday, June 2, in Kasoa, where pockets of violence were recorded during the Vote Transfer exercise.
The NDC parliamentary candidate was granted bail on Saturday, April 8 after party supporters besieged the Cantonment Police Station in Accra.
Reacting to the incidence leading to the arrest of the NDC parliamentary candidate, Mr. Boakye Danquah stated that crime has no colour and no matter the apparent delay, the police can still invite the NPP MP, who was also in possession of a gun, flaunting it in public.
Mr. Palgrave made this revelations on Monday’s edition of TV3’s Big Issue.
He bemoaned how firearms are displayed whether registered or not, especially as Ghanaians approach the crucial December 7 general elections.
Speaking further, he maintained that the NDC Parliamentary Candidate, Ms Naa Koryoo, could have asked for police protection, which is within her rights, instead of securing firearms to defend herself, adding that, the police and the small arms office must withdraw their licenses from irresponsible persons to own guns legally.
He said, "The issue is that the Parliamentary Candidate of the NDC was found in possession of some pump action guns, four rounds pump action guns. I think that should be a concern for every Ghanaian and that’s a concern for me even as a security expert that no one in this country whether licensed or even not licensed, should want to be carrying guns around."
“Anyone who is a proper gun-lover, you never even show your gun,” he said.
He added, “If you have been under attack four times, you report to the Ghana Police Service and ask the Ghana Police Service to give you protection, you can request for that,” he explained in response to concerns that Ms Naa Koryoo secured those guns legally due to alleged attacks from thugs associated with the incumbent MP, Hawa Koomson.
According to him, every person who violates the laws of Ghana must face the full rigours of the law, positing that no one is above the law.
He said, “no one in this country is above the law. You can’t take the laws into your hands, even if you have a licensed gun, you can’t parade the licensed gun on the streets of Ghana.”
In referring to Hawa Koomsons conduct in public in 2020, Mr. Palgrave Boakye Danquah said, “We can go into the substance of the issue and invite her. It’s not too late, It’s never too late. ”
It is recalled that, Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East on July 20, 2020, admitted to firing shots at a voter registration centre in her constituency “to protect herself”.
Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com
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