The Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Draman has called for sanctions against persons who encouraged the military invasion of Parliament.
Armed soldiers Thursday, January 7, 2021, stormed the Chamber of Parliament following the continued failure of the Members of Parliament-elect to elect the Speaker for the Eighth Parliament.
The soldiers, numbering about 20, emerged in the Chamber together with armed policemen ostensibly to restore calm in the Chamber.
The well-armed security detail, with some having facemasks, came to the floor of Parliament at about 3.30 a.m. reportedly on the orders of the former Minister of Defence, Mr Dominic Nitiwul.
Commenting on the development on Accra-based radio station, Citi FM, on Friday, January 8, 2021, Dr Draman said the Military High Command should also be queried for the circumstances that led to the presence of armed military personnel in the House.
“When you see the military entering Parliament, immediately what comes to your mind is that this is another coup. For me, I even blame the military hierarchy. They are there to defend the constitution not to defend the interest of any particular individual. The governments are going to change whether we like it or not. I think our political actors have to be very careful.
He added that “We have to get things done in the right way. So whoever gave the instruction, whoever brought the military in, I believe that some serious action has to be taken because our constitution is clear on situations like this.”
Aside from the invasion of the military, there were several disruptions in Parliament including the snatching of ballot boxes and the NDC MPs sitting on the right side of the Speaker to indicate that they were on the majority side of Parliament.
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