The Minority in Parliament has rejected a directive by President Akufo-Addo to the Minister for the Interior, to inquire into circumstances that led to the death of two persons in Ejura on Tuesday.

According to the Minority, because state security agencies are complicit, they cannot be counted on to oversee a fair investigation adding that it is not enough for the President to establish a Ministerial Committee.

Addressing a media briefing in Parliament House, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said they rather want to see a Commission of Inquiry that would call for reforms of the security agencies.

“Understandably we have heard President Akufo-Addo instruct the Minister for Interior for a Commission of Inquiry into this matter, we reject it, that is not good enough. We want a Commission of Inquiry within the meaning of article 278, of the 1992 Constitution."

"The President must appoint a sole commissioner or two or more persons to support a commissioner just like the Emile Short Commission on the Ayawaso West Wuogon [by election].”

Mr Iddrisu stated that the Minority will accept the recommendations of such a commission chaired by a Supreme Court Justice or a Retired Justice.

“We want that type of Commission of Inquiry not a Ministerial one. There is complicity of state security agencies, they cannot absorb themselves,” the Tamale South Member of Parliament said.

His comment comes after President Akufo-Addo instructed the Minister for Interior, Ambrose Dery, to conduct a public inquiry into the circumstances that led to the death of two persons and four others sustaining injuries during a protest in Ejura on Tuesday.

The youth were demanding justice for activist Kaaka Mohammed who passed away after a mob attack.

A press statement signed by the Ag. Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, indicated that the President has given the Minister, ten days to provide a detailed report of the inquiry.

“The Interior Minister is to provide a detailed report from the inquiry, with recommendations for appropriate action to be taken by July 9, 2021”, parts of the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Minority said that the murder of Kaaka Mohammed is unfortunate and regrettable. They also condemned the additional loss of lives arising out of the use of "brute, cohesive and excessive force" by the security agencies.

"More significantly is the worrying absorption into the security agencies, in particular the Police and the Ghana Armed Forces, of NPP apparatchiks vigilantes. They are not professional, [and],they can never be professional. You know their modus operandi as they chase NPP Ministers out [of office]. We are not surprised that they may be at the center of this," Mr Iddrisu said.

He explained that the many men who are being recruited are not trained adequately. He alleged that new recruits are being trained for three months instead of being trained ordinarily, for nine months.

He, however, urged the youth to calm down in their demand for justice so that lives can be preserved.

Background

On Monday, it was reported that a 40-year-old social activist, who was attacked by an angry mob at Ejura Saturday dawn, had died.

The deceased, Ibrahim Mohammed, was attacked by two assailants, who have allegedly been arrested by the Police. He was repeatedly struck on the head with objects until he lost consciousness.

This news left many Ghanaians and some youth in Ejura in shock. While others took their anger to their online platforms, the youth in the area took to the streets demanding justice for the murdered social activist.

Since the death of the 40-year-old Ibrahim Mohammed, aka Kaaka, over the weekend, the youth say they are willing to sacrifice their lives to get justice for him.

The youth stormed the Police station on Tuesday morning to inquire about the extent of investigations regarding the murder of their colleague and #FixTheCountry activist, stressing that they want the Police to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to book.

Pressing home their demand for justice, the youth hit the streets but were met by Military and Police personnel.

However, things turned turbulent as the joint Police and Military team accosted the agitated youth on the streets where the two were shot in the process.

Later in the day, the Ghana Police Service released a statement saying that its Ashanti Regional Police Command had commenced investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the violent clashes between the youth and security personnel in Ejura Sekyedumase on Tuesday.

The Service said its preliminary investigation shows that following the burial of activist Ibrahim Mohammed aka Kaaka at Mempeasem cemetery at Ejura, the youth blocked the main Ejura Atebubu road impeding traffic.

“The Police moved in with Military reinforcement to quell the situation but the irate youth charged on the security officers with all manner of implements including firearms, clubs, machetes and stones.

“The security officials fired shots to disperse the angry mob who failed to retreat but rather massed up at all corners. The death and injuries were recorded in the process.”

However, Member of Parliament for Ejura Sekyeredumase, Braimah Mohammed has described as false, the claims by the police that the youth of the area attacked the security agencies during their protest to demand justice for dead activist, Kaaka Mohammed.

According to him, the Police statement is an afterthought and an attempt by the security agencies to cover up the fact that they acted unprofessionally when they opened fire on the youth leading to the death of the two and four others sustaining injuries.