Accra, Aug. 18, GNA – Parliament on Monday voted to extend the State of Emergency in the Dagbon Traditional Area by one month commencing August 23, 2003.
The 104-majority vote for the adoption of the resolution for the extension excluded the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority group that walked out after the motion was moved.
Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Minister for the Interior, who moved the motion, accused the NDC group of “bad faith”.
“I am accusing the NDC group of bad faith and urging Ghanaians that they should never be given the opportunity to rule the country again.”
He said the request government made to Parliament for the extension was based wholly and purely on the advice of the security agencies. The Minister said he had for the first time decided that only Tamale Municipality and the Yendi District were to endure the State of Emergency but the security agencies despatched two pieces of information on Friday evening and Sunday night warning of severe consequences if it was cancelled in other areas.
He said the security situation had not changed for the better and that groups were still stockpiling arms to strike at the opportune time. “When I told the President about the last warning, he said we should err on the side of caution.”
Mr Felix Owusu Agyepong, the Majority Leader, said government could not have ignored the advice of the security agencies because they were the professionals on the field.
“I believe we (government) are on the right path. We would continue to talk with them (Minority) after the vote and dialogue.” He said the NDC Minority had ignored Parliament when their inputs were needed most saying: “We would continue to respect and promote parliamentary culture.
Papa Owusu Ankomah, Attorney – General and Minister of Justice, said government would seek extension as long as it deemed it necessary to maintain the State of Emergency in Dagbon.
He warned that those, who sought to gain political advantage by fanning the conflict, would be consumed in it.
The Attorney – General dismissed claims by the Minority that the trial of the two suspects for the murder of the Ya-Na Yakubu Andani was not properly handled, adding, “the Attorney-General is not a political persecutor”.
He said anyone who had evidence on the murder should provide it for government to begin prosecution.
Papa Owusu Ankomah said the Minority had issued a pack of emotions and political innuendoes as reasons for staying out. He said the claim that President Kufuor was committing resources to solve the Liberian crises while he did nothing about the Dagbon issue was unfortunate.
Captain Nkrabea Effah Dartey, NPP-Berekum, said the Minority had demonstrated the highest sense of intolerance and had attempted to bury democracy.
“They run away from debate. I see in my mind’s eye that come the 2004 elections all of them would be walked out.”
He said government would never abdicate its responsibility of maintaining peace and order in the country.
“If we have to extend the State of Emergency in Dagbon ad infinitum so be it.”
Source: GhanaWeb
