Danger: Can’t Police Stop Violent Party Security Forces?

NPP Supporters in a mood for violence

By Ekow Mensah

Citizens who have legitimate concerns about the maintenance of law and order must be losing sleep over current happenings in the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The clash between the Bolgatanga Bulldogs and the Invincible Forces at the Party’s headquarters clearly showed how unrestrained private security forces can become a huge menace for national security.

Official and news reports claim that machetes, knives of all descriptions clubs and at least, one sophiscated pistol, were deployed in wanton display of violence.

Interestingly, the pistol allegedly belonging to a supporter of the embattled National Chairman of the party, Mr Paul Afoko was said to be unlicensed.

The question on the lips of many innocent citizens is why the police has failed or refused to call these apparently illegal security outfits and the gangs that populated them to order?

Under the laws of Ghana nobody is allowed to establish private security   companies without clearance from the national security apparatus.

So have the Bolgatanga Bulldogs and the Invincible Forces been cleared by the national security apparatus?

And if they haven’t been cleared why have they been allowed to operate with such impunity?

When will the national security apparatus take action to prevent rampaging party zealots from attacking each other?

If within the NPP, rival security forces can be this violent then what will happen, when they clash with opponents of the party?

It is imperative for the security forces to act now rather than wait for full blown mayhem before rushing in to save lives and property.

Editorial

DEMONSTRATIONS

It must be obvious to all political parties that none of them is allowed to dictate  to the Electoral Commission and that the independence of the Commission is strongly enshrined in the 1992 constitution.

In our view there cannot be anything wrong with political parties expressing their views about how elections may be conducted.

The expression can even be backed by demonstrations as both pro-NDC and pro-NPP groups have done.

Indeed free expressions should not in any way be extended to mean dictation to the Electoral Commission.

We insist that the independence of the Electoral Commission should be upheld at all times.

Neither the NPP nor the NDC should have its way with the Electoral Commission.