Mahama used his ex-gratia to sponsor thugs in Hawks - Chairman Wontumi

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has alleged that former President John Mahama has invested more than half of his ex-gratia into funding thugs and hooligans and for this reason would find it very difficult to make a bold statement from its disbandment.

His comment comes in the wake of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s bold statement in calling on the two major political parties in Ghana to disband vigilante groups.

In a recent address to Ghanaians, President Akufo Addo served notice to initiate legislation to ban vigilante groups if voluntary disbandment by political parties is not feasible.

Delivering his third State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, February 21, 2019, President Akufo Addo appealed to the leaders of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to come together immediately and fashion out measures to end vigilantism in Ghana politics.

After commending President Akufo-Addo for the bold statement, Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako who is popularly known as Chairman Wontumi insisted that out of desperation for power, former President Mahama has used a chunk of his ex-gratia to buy sophisticated weapons for his militia group known as the Hawks to cause atrocities during elections.

Four persons alleged to be members of the pro-NDC vigilante group “The Hawks” suspected to have carried out the shooting at the Regional Office of the NDC have been declared wanted by the Ashanti Regional Police Command.

The incident claimed one life while one person is in critical condition at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and according to Chairman Wontumi, “The killing which occurred in-front of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives in the Ashanti Region was carried out by boys who work for John Mahama. They are part of the Hawks, a group founded by Joseph Yasmin and sponsored by John Mahama. “

He continued that “If the taxpayers money, used to pay John Mahama as his ex-gratia would be used by him in acquiring weapons for his thugs, then I am calling on the State to halt the financial assistance to him. He is a rebel leader and not a Statesman. He is a gangster who has a lot of criminals working for him. He can never be bold enough like President Akufo-Addo to call for the disbandment of vigilante groups.”

Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako explained that Ghanaians should applaud President Akufo-Addo for his brave decision to halt vigilante groups under his watch.