By-election violence: Masked, gun-toting men are national security operatives – Bryan Acheampong

The gunmen involved in the shooting incident at La-Bawaleshie during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election on Thursday, 31 January 2019 are National Security operatives, Minister of State in charge of National Security, Mr Bryan Acheampong has said.

A group of macho men believed to be security agents fired into the crowd at the La-Bawaleshie JHS polling station, injuring six persons.

The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) pulled out of the election due to the shooting incident. During the melee, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram, Sam Nartey George, was also assaulted by the hooded and totally masked security operatives.

The Ghana Police Service has said it has mounted investigations to identify the masked men.

But speaking on Ekosii sen on Accra-based Asempa FM on Friday, 1 February 2019, Mr Acheampong said the masked men are national security operatives.

According to him, the officers are well-trained and if any of them misconducted themselves during the melee, a probe into the matter will fish them out.

Mr Acheampong explained that the masked National Security officers stormed the residence of Mr Delali Kwasi Brempong, the NDC candidate because some 15 young men on motorbikes who had been sacked from the La-Bawaleshie JHS polling station had entered his house and begun shooting.

According to him, there was a heated exchange between the motor-riding youth and the National Security operatives, which led to the melee.