Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Police said they were investigating the shooting death of a Ghanaian lawmaker on Friday after he attended a political event in his constituency, in an apparent robbery case .
Ekow Quansah Hayford, a member of President Nana Akufo-Addo ’ s ruling New Patriotic Party, was campaigning ahead of the December elections in his constituency, some 108 kilometers ( 67 miles) from the capital Accra .
“ His driver attempted to drive through a road- block but he was shot, ”
Wofa Yaw , an NPP official who was accompanying the slain MP , told AFP .
“ In the course of the melee, the MP introduced himself as the lawmaker for the area and immediately they shot him and he died on the spot, ” Yaw said , adding that the driver later died in hospital .
Another witness gave a similar account .
“ They asked us to lie down while others ran into the bush . It was a terrifying scene . All we heard were gunshots, ” the witness said , asking to remain anonymous .
James Oppong- Boanuh, inspector general of police, said in a statement that investigators had been dispatched to support local authorities in solving the alleged robbery incident and murder.
Ghana’ s president posted a statement on Facebook saying that he was shocked and saddened by the news, offering condolences to the MP ’ s family.
“ By all accounts , he was very much appreciated and loved by his constituents, and I expect the police to bring the perpetrators of this gruesome , cruel act to book as soon as possible , ” President Akufo-Addo said .
The party will have to nominate a new candidate for the Mfantseman constituency which Hayford represented .
“ It ’ s a sad morning and we ’ re all devastated . Ghana has lost one of its illustrious sons , ” Bright Wireko – Bobby , a party member and deputy minister for employment and labor relations , told AFP .
The opposition National Democratic Congress, in a statement , said it was suspending its campaign in the constituency in solidarity with the ruling party.
Ghana — viewed as one of West Africa ’ s most stable democracies — is gearing up for presidential elections on December 7.
( AFP)
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