The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) flexed its militia muscles yesterday during a regional delegates congress in Tamale, parading over 30 heavily built young men drawn from its vigilante groups across the country to offer security at the program.
Observers believe the presence of the vigilantes dismantled the strenuous campaigns by Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) to end proliferation of political vigilante groups in the country.
A recent survey conducted by CDD revealed that nearly 7 out of every 10 respondents who claimed awareness of vigilante groups associated them with the NDC, while 18% linked them to the NPP but some leading party figures have denied their operation and mostly called them mere party foot soldiers.
However, on Sunday, July 30, 2017 when the party organized its northern region delegates congress, it put on a flamboyant show of militia powers by deploying amulet wearing men from the Invincible Forces and Kandahar Boys who overwhelmed police personnel to provide security for leading party figures including the National chairman, Freddy Blay.
Though political parties have downplayed the activities of these vigilante groups and attempted to disown them anytime they lose grip on them, several speakers at the congress including the National Organizer, John Boadu and the Regional Secretary, Sule Salifu repeatedly acknowledge presence of private militias who tightly stood guard at the back and front of the dais reducing policemen to spectators.
The speakers also mentioned how the groups were used in their “adopt polling stations” strategy in the last elections that brought them back to power and suggested their efforts would be needed to keep the party in next elections.
Bugri Naabu tears down MPs; calls them saboteurs
The congress was well attended by party faithful, regional executives, ministers, MMDCEs, government appointees across the region and graced by raft of national executives including National chairman, Acting General Secretary, National Youth Organizer, Sammy Awuku and his deputy and many others.
It started on a very raucous note when the regional chairman, Daniel Bugri Naabu asked to give an opening remarks ripped into some Members of Parliament in outrage accusing them of being behind the growing internal chaos in the region and asking the national chairman to sanction them.
Mr. Naabu flaming in rage and appeared untamed said the recent hostilities that characterized the confirmation processes of Municipal and District Chief Executives and other presidential appointments were engineered by the MPs.
He said the party risk losing many seat in the region if higher authority disregards his caution and mentioned Nalerigu and Gushegu constituencies which he later retracted and I apologized.
Bugri had earlier leveled same charges against the Northern regional minister and his deputy.
“National chairman, we have problems. The problems are not from the regional executives. Some of the MPs are creating the problems about District Chief Executives appointment so go and tell the president to see to it. They are campaigning against Nana Addo appointments, if you don’t do it, the party is going to lose heavily. In this region, there are bone of contentions; and im happy you are here and I will tell you, if you don’t go and do your work and the region is collapsed don’t say it’s from me and my regional executives. We have done our part”
The chairman also raged against the national chairman and President Nana Addo for broken promise about the regional coordinator post of the Ghana School Feeding Program.
“School Feeding Program is destroying in northern region, i’m saying this without mincing words. You (national chairman), President Nana Akuffo Addo told me who you want and it was made known to the person but today every day trouble; I can’t sleep”, Bugri complained.