Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Awutu Senya East, Michael Mensah, who is also the chairman of the Municipal Security Council has alleged that the Minister of Special Development Initiatives, Mavis Hawa Koomson went to the registration centre where the gunshots occurred to pick first-hand information on the bussing of non-residents to Steps to Christ Registration Centre.
Commenting on the circumstances that led to the firing of the warning shots, he said the MP – Hawa Koomson picked information that the NDC parliamentary candidate for the constituency Phyllis Naa Koryo had camped non-residents from Nsawam and areas so they could register and vote for the NDC.
The MCE stated that upon reaching the registration centre, she explained to those who were in the line that they would be challenged if it is discovered they were not residents.
“After she said this, three of the persons in the line thanked her and left because they admitted they were not from the area. They later went to the candidate’s house where they were camped and reported the engagement with the MP. Angered by this, the NDC candidate deployed men who were on motorbikes to trail the Minister who was on her way to another registration centre to solve another problem at the Universal Petrol Station.”
Read More: Female Politicians Who will Influence December 2020 Elections
He told host Kwabena Agyapong his narration is devoid of political colour.
Mr Mensah said after the Hawa Koomson had resolved the issue at Universal Centre, the persons who were allegedly deployed by the NDC candidate trailed her.
He justified the firing of the warning shots saying the life of the minister was under threat and she could have been killed.
“Her life was under threat. She was being threatened and so, she had to defend herself,” he added.
To him, the call for the dismissal of the minister is without basis and the security analysts who have made this call failed to examine all the circumstances leading to the firing of the warning shots.
The MCE further alleged the MP went back to the Steps to Christ Registration Centre because the NDC and their representatives were still allowing the non-residents to register.
Read More: Female Politicians Who will Influence December 2020 Elections
“But on her way, the boys on the motorbikes crossed her and they were armed. When you visit the see bullet marks because they had been shooting indiscriminately in the area, and so she [MP] fired the first shot. She felt her life was under threat. We must interrogate the self-defence position the minister took and interrogate it properly. Was it justified for her to have fired the shots due to the aggression coming to her? Was it also appropriate for her to have done that? The people were shooting,” he said.
Source: Rainbowradioonline.com