Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has descended heavily on the government for what he says is the attempt to use the Special Forces to intimidate voters in this year’s elections.
According to Mr. Kufuor, never has there been such a military wing in the history of Ghana, alleging that the only reason why it was displayed by the government was to intimidate Ghanaians so they can take the elections by force.
Former President Kufuor was speaking at the Northern Regional rally of the New Patriotic Party on Wednesday, which was climaxed by an address from the flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo.
It will be recalled that on the 6th of March 2012, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) displayed a group of highly armed soldiers, referred to as Special Forces. The military high command later explained that the Special Forces were made up of highly trained military personnel who are only going to work in the interest of the nation.
According to the Public Affairs Director of the GAF, Col. Mbawine Atintande, the Special Forces Unit (SFU) was created three years ago in response to new security threats confronting the country.
There was a hue and cry from the opposition NPP, describing the Special Forces as an attempt to cow the Ghanaian populace so the NDC could win the elections.
In a tacit show of solidarity to the NPP’s official position on the Special Forces, former President Kufuor said “we never had people to train them to be machos and Special Forces. We didn’t want to frighten anybody; that is not the role of government. But here now in Ghana people are afraid [of] the Special Forces.”
“Why should our own government - people we put in power - turn around to frighten us so they continue to take the power by force from us. It’s not good,” former President Kufuor averred.
He urged Tamale residents to vote out the NDC and give the NPP a chance to bring real change into the livelihoods.
“I am appealing to you; for the good of Ghana; for the good of all of us especially the young people who want to make something of their lives; kindly, kindly use your power – your vote is your power – give your power to the people who will go and serve you truly and well.”
He chided the NDC for claiming credit for the increase in cocoa production, saying “they came two years and said they have increased cocoa production in Ghana to over a million tons. Do you grow cocoa today and two years you harvest them? It never happens anywhere. We did it.”
“We did it but they want to steal everything from us. That is why I say they are Azaa people (deceitful or fraudulent),” he lamented.
Former President Kufuor further took on the government for the current state of the economy insisting the NDC administration has “destroyed the currency”.
“Are you happy with the market, can you borrow money from the banks? He asked, to which the crowd responded “No”.
“In our time the banks were chasing you to come and take credit. Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia will bring that back to you. That is what the vote is about,” Mr. Kufuor posited.
