The Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor, has dismissed media reports suggesting that she denied the occurrence of violent incidents in her constituency during the 2020 elections.
Her remarks come after Minister for the Interior Muntaka Mohamed-Mubarak shared updates from the task force handling the case at a press briefing on November 4, regarding investigations into past electoral violence.
“The task force observed that the honourable Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okennor denied that her convoy was attacked,” he had stated.
Responding to this, Philis Okunor met with the press on November 6, to clarify her position, insisting that she never denied that attacks occurred.
“I am here today to address some matters arising from the interview and the report submitted by the task force commissioned by the president to investigate election violence from 2020 to 2024 in Ghana.”
According to her, she chose to remain silent for a while despite calls from well-meaning Ghanaians, including constituents who witnessed what she described as brutal attacks.
“At no time did I say no attacks happened,” she clarified.
Honourable Okunor recounted that her convoy had been followed by vehicles allegedly linked to her political opponent.
“I stated emphatically to the task force that on the Election Day during my rounds, I noticed my convoy was being followed by a V8 vehicle allegedly known to be used by Hawa Koomson and a NADMO pickup which had the green government number plate,” she said.
“After visiting some polling stations, I decided to go home because I felt my life was in danger.”
The MP expressed confidence that the ongoing investigations would reveal the full truth.
“I am convinced that at the end of this investigation, the truer facts will emerge,” she said.
She also addressed concerns raised in the report about the unwillingness of witnesses to testify, saying that matter was beyond her control.
“On the issue of unwillingness of persons who witnessed these acts to testify, this is entirely out of my control,” she explained.
“There are videos to some of these attacks and these are available for the committee to aid their work.”
“Does the unwillingness of eyewitnesses and victims to testify mean these documented acts of violence didn’t happen? Even if there are records of loss of life and injuries?” she asked.
She said she would have preferred to wait for the final conclusion of the investigation before speaking, but felt compelled to respond now.
“I cannot keep quiet over an inconclusive report as clearly stated by our Honourable Minister for Interior during his press briefing,” she said.
The MP further clarified that she had not yet submitted her official written statement to the police, and as such, any statements circulating in the media were inaccurate.
“Officially, I have not given my written statement to the police yet, due to the ill treatment during the 2020 election violence. Therefore, statements on the media are inaccurate and not mine,” she said.
She further called for unity within her constituency and urged the task force to represent her comments accurately.
“As the sitting Member of Parliament for the good people of Awutu Senya East, I consider myself a mother for all. I have therefore called for reconciliation and unity amongst all the rank and file of the party,” she said.
“I will encourage the task force to stick to exactly what I told them, for fairness and prosperity.”
