Agb | Feb 04, 2019
The Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Joseph Whittal, has said that it is unfair for some people to be demanding apology from John Mahama over his "boot-for-boot" comment.
His comments follow calls from some section of Ghanaians, asking ex-president John Mahama to apologize for his comments after the Ayawaso by-election violent incident.
Former president Mahama, now an aspiring flagbearer of the opposition NDC, made some 'wild' comments after fallouts from the Ayawaso by-election.
On 31st January, 2019, there were some gunshots and assault incidents at the La Bawaleshie Presby School polling center.
Resulting from the incident, the opposition NDC claimed that those who were assaulted were their party members.
John Mahama in response to the violence meted on some of his party members said that the NDC will be ready to meet the NPP boot for boot in the 2020 elections.
According the former president, the NPP must be ashamed of themselves for deploying violent tactics during the by-election.
He then warned that if the situation continues in the 2020 general elections, the NDC would be forced to respond with violence as well.
After Mahama's comments, some section of Ghanaians from the NPP and civil society groups called on the presidential aspirant to apologize.
They claim that Mahama's comment is not positive enough, and could plunge Ghana into chaos during the 2020 elections.
Jumping in defense of John Mahama, the CHRAJ boss in an interview with Starr FM said that even though he thinks Mahama's comments are not in good taste, calling for him to apologize is unfair.
Joseph Whittal explained that before Mahama should be called to apologize, the National Security team should be called to apologize first.
He noted that the violent incident which occurred during the Ayawaso by-election is a dent on Ghana's democracy.
Meanwhile, the CHRAJ office has called on the police to arrest and deal with those found culpable of the violent act at Bawaleshie.
Several civil agencies have condemned the shooting incident that led to severe injury of about eight people.
However, the opposition NDC officially withdrew from the by-election following the assault on some of its members.
The Electoral Commission on the other hand, described the Ayawaso by-election as one without hitches.
President Nana Akufo-Addo in his comment on the election also congratulated the winner and said that the election was fair.
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