National Security operative who assaulted Sam George apologizes

Mr Mohammed Alhassan, the National Security civilian operative who assaulted Mr Sam George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, during the January 31 Ayawaso West Wuogon Parliamentary by-election, has rendered an apology for his conduct.

Testifying on Friday before the Short Commission of Inquiry, Mr Mohammed apologized to Mr George, while the National Security also promised not to repeat same.

Mr Alhassan, who spoke Dagbani, told the Commission through an interpreter that on the day of the incident, he was part of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, which embarked on a national assignment in the Constituency.

He said he was provoked by the utterances of Mr George, which led him to assault him.

Mr Alhassan noted that as at the time of the incident, he did not know Mr George in person.

When Mr Eric Osei-Mensah, Counsel of the Commission, asked him whether he knew that Mr George was a sitting MP, Mr Alhassan replied that he never knew Mr George was an MP, and that if he were to stand before him, he would not be able to recognize him.

Asked by Counsel whether he had since regretted his action and would like to apologize for it, Mr Alhassan said: “If I knew he was an MP, I wouldn’t have assaulted him, I am sorry for my actions.”

Following the outbreak of violence at La-Bawaleshie during the Ayawaso West Wuogon Parliamentary by-election on January 31, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo set up a Commission of Enquiry to do a far-reaching investigation, which would sustain the peace of the nation.

It was chaired by Mr Francis Emile Short, a former Commissioner for the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

The members are Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, an eminent professor in Criminal Law and Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, a former IGP, with Dr Ernest Kofi Abotsi, a private legal practitioner and a former Dean of the GIMPA Faculty of Law, as the Secretary.

Source: GNA