Parliament on Thursday observed a minute silence in memory of George Floyd, joining the growing voices across the world demanding justice for the murdered African American.
George Floyd died during a police arrest when an officer pinned his neck to the ground with his knee for well over eight minutes while he cried, ‘I can’t breathe.’
Okudzeto Ablakwa
Reading a statement on the killing and demanding justice and an end to racism, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stated the traumatic episode should serve as a chilling reminder that the war against racism has not been won.
Racial injustices, he said, is a global issue that affects all and stressed a clear message must be sent out that the Black race has had enough.
“From slavery, colonialism, neo-colonialism, economic exploitation to structural and institutional racism, we have simply had enough. Black lives matter! We must force all those knees off our necks.”
“We hope US authorities will ensure justice is manifestly done. May this become a watershed moment in history and a positive turning point for blacks in that country,” he said.
Mr. Ablakwa argued that as the House remembers George Floyd, it is important it also remembers that justice must be done for former MP, J.B. Danquah, Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama, Ahmed Hussein-Suale and the three Takoradi missing girls.
Haruna Iddrisu
Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu noted that the statement is Parliament‘s strong voice to the continuing condemnation of global racism.
According to him, blacks have suffered three traumatic events in a role namely slavery, colonialism, and continued global racism.
The wicked murder of George Floyd and his last words, he said, should, therefore, be a wake-up call for the entire African and black race.
He argued that to suffocate a person by the neck for more than eight minutes cannot be classified as an application of reasonable force by any law enforcement agent.
He commended the response of the US police force and the global consensus calling for police reforms.
He urged the Minister of Interior and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to learn from the trending events and keep with the provision of chapter 5 of the 1992 Constitution for better and professional police service.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, in his contribution, argued no person, whether or not he is arrested, restricted or detained should be subjected to torture or any other inhuman or cruel treatment.
According to him, respect to human dignity as enshrined in Ghana’s constitution was hugely taken from America practice and wondered why such heinous and barbaric acts are still going on in the United States.
He questioned whether leadership in American today is giving the signals that are really igniting racial injustice.
“America needs to do serious introspection. Racial injustice, exclusion, and indeed discrimination in any form cannot be tolerated,” he stated.
He averred that in a world where death no longer agitates humans, the death of George Floyd has aroused the consciousness of all people of the world.
That, he said, should tell America there is something wrong with their current practice hence the need for introspection.
Ras Mubarak
Member for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, pointed out that the United States needs to root out racial injustice and put itself on the right side.
“The right side means building a just system, building a fair and an equal society respecting human rights and the rule of law.”
“I hope George Floyd’s death marks an end to this systemic and endemic racism in America. I am hoping the Chinese government will clamp down on its landlords and shop owners who are abusing Africans.”
“Let’s hope that South Africans would stop killing Zimbabweans and other Africans and also hope that slavery in Libya would stop,” he said.
—
Frontpageghana.com/Ghana/Uthman A. Marani
