SECURITY THREAT !

Acting NPP Chairman, Freddie Blay

By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Considering happenings at the NPP front that entail security implications, let me ask a loaded question: Why is it that of all the political parties, it is the NPP alone that has found it necessary to form a security organization to defend it or its Akufo-Addo's interests against those of his opponents?

We have already heard of the "trouble" at the NPP's National Headquarters and what the security implications are. Contrary to earlier claims that the NPP headquarters had been ransacked by elements purportedly supporting Afoko and that 11 of such "invaders" were military personnel, the truth is gradually emerging that something more troubling is at the centre of happenings there.

Some NPP supporters have been quick to blame President Mahama and the NDC for infiltrating ranks and organizing the day's event just to worsen the NPP's internal crisis.

Clearly, there is much happening in connection with the exact purpose of that NPP headquarters. The formation of a security wing (known as the "Invisible Forces") has added more suspicion to what exactly the NPP has up its sleeves to confront the Establishment.

As I have already said in my opinion pieces on the security threat posed by such a ragtag force, the government must act quickly to prevent a nasty situation in the near future.

The truth about what happened today is contained in this report by PeaceFMOnline (See http://elections.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/201511/261607.php).

Nana Akufo Addo

You can see clearly from the report that the military and police were in action to retrieve those weapons and other items (as some have identified as sacks of wee, machetes, cudgels, and many others). What are those weapons being stored there for?

The time is long past for the government to stamp its authority on the situation. It must disband all such ragtag quasi-security organizations and ensure that the orthodox security services act prudently to deal with any deviance. That is why the BNI and other intelligence-gathering institutions must be more proactive than they've been all this while to expose the brains behind the formation of such organizations and to prosecute those who fall foul of the law.

If for nothing at all, Ghanaians want to enjoy the peace that has prevailed all these years. The kind of violence (or the rhetoric of political violence) being introduced into national politics by the NPP and its Akufo-Addo must not be countenanced at all.

Interestingly, the day's event happened just when Akufo-Addo left for London. He is known for running away after setting others up to cause mayhem. Then, he returns to settle back in the groove as if he has no hand in the events. Shameful.

I repeat my loaded question for emphasis: Why is it that of all the political parties, it is the NPP alone that has found it necessary to form a security organization to defend it or its Akufo-Addo's interests against those of his opponents? We saw how this ragtag organization of disgruntled elements was used in the Afoko case and will be used in other cases considered as inimical to Akufo-Addo's interests.

Suspended NPP Chairman, Paul Afoko

Now that the truth about the use to which the NPP's national headquarters is being put, the authorities must investigate today's happening and punish those who have to be punished for illegally stocking weapons and other substances there.

It is better to act now than to frantically mobilize resources to "cure" what could have been prevented. No more, no less.

The Ghanaian Establishment has been really sluggish in acting against forces that threaten national security. Some of us who complain about what is happening in the NPP today had done so in the 1990s and early 2000s when we were serving our country before moving on to other departments of life. I remember very well my writing to complain about reports that the late Major Courage Quashigah was contemplating and actually working on creating a private army for the NPP. What happened on that issue belongs to history, but it looks like the ghost that was disregarded then is now taking shape to scare the system. Courage Quashigah is dead and gone but his dream for a militant group is still active in the NPP. Is anybody listening? I am available for further explanation. Just reach out to me.

I shall return…

E-mail: mjbokor@yahoo.com

Editorial

Let’s pause and change

The reported invasion of the NPP head office is the latest low in the country’s multi-party journey.

There are various versions of who staged the attack and while it is important to establish the truth of what really happened, our concern here is how these troubling developments are fast becoming the norm.

A number of commentators suggest that the attack is part of the internal struggles within the NPP. If this is the case then it appears to confirm the trend where intra-party fights have become as aggressive if not more so than inter-party contests.

It is dangerous not simply because of the damages it is leaving in its wake but more importantly because of the risks it is carrying for the country.

Multi-party democracy, the proponents suggest, lead to a contest of ideas which ultimately should lead to the good of the country.

The contests we are seeing now both intra and interparty can hardly be classed as contest of ideas; they seem mainly personality based and the main basis behind it is that some party members see particular individuals as their route to personal gains.

Such an attitude to politics, we dare warn, is very short sighted indeed.