Party militarism: I’m a beneficiary – NPP Gen. Sec.

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The General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has admitted that individuals now described as party militias have been of help to him in his political career in the past.

Mr Boadu made this known on Monday, 4 March 2019, when he appeared before the Commission of Inquiry, set up by President Nana Akufo-Addo to probe the violence that marred the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election on 31 January 2019.

Some National Security operatives temporarily disrupted the by-election at the La-Bawaleshie basic school polling station when they fired into the crowd that had gathered at the private residence of the NDC’s candidate close to the polling centre.

The masked men also beat up unarmed civilians and assaulted a member of parliament, Sam Nartey George in the melee.

Apart from the Commission of Inquiry, the president has also tasked the leadership of the two major political parties to disband any militias attached to the parties.

Asked by the Commission if the NPP is a beneficiary of the activities of party militias, Mr Boadu stated: “I, in person, am a beneficiary of these groupings, as individual members of the party”.

He explained that in 2016, there were some challenges during a re-registration exercise at the Asutifi and Asunafo areas in the Brong Ahafo Region. Mr Boadu, who said he was the Acting General Secretary of the NPP at that time, decided to visit the areas.

“For whatever reason, I decided, when I got to Kumasi, to ask some of our young men to join me to visit those areas,” he revealed.

He narrated that at one polling station, a gentleman calling himself Naba, arrived with some well-built men “who were holding guns, machetes, knives, and introduced himself to me as the brother of Honourable Collins Dauda [Member of Parliament for Asutifi]”.

Mr Boadu said the man threatened to “deal” with him, adding that “had it not been the presence of these gentlemen that accompanied me, it would have been a different story”.

In his assessment, “The police [on duty at the polling station] were virtually helpless”.

He noted that people at the polling station ran for cover and “we were lucky that the polling station was closer to a police station”.

Mr Boadu said he went to seek refuge at the police station in the company of the men from Kumasi and the police commander, who, he said, was helpful, “brought out an AK-47 and gave about 2 to 3 warning shots, [and] Naba and his group also replied. Our constituency chairman at that time was beaten and as we speak now, My Lord, he cannot put his head down”.

He reiterated that: “I, personally, if I had not had the services of these young men with me on that day… it would have been catastrophic”.

Mr Boadu further pointed out that the militias are “not owned by the New Patriotic Party” and “they are not sponsored by the New Patriotic Party”.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3FM