NPP Millitia at Osu Castle insulting to AWW Commission of Inquiry – Security Expert

A scurity analyst, Adib Saani has disclosed that Ghana’s security faces a major threat following the reluctance of the ruling New Patriotic party (NPP) to completely disband its militia groups.

His comment comes barely 24 hours after Accra-based Joy FM’s investigative journalist, Manasseh Azuri Awuni, exposed the activities of a militia group associated with the NPP which trains at the former seat of government, the Christianborg Castle at Osu in Accra.

According to Manasseh, the group which is known as ‘De-Eye Group’ has been meeting at the facility for close to two years, and sometimes offer protection to some state functions.

But reacting to the documentary on Ete Sen on Radio XYZ 93.1, Mr Saani who is the Jatikay Centre for Human Security & Peace Building observed that the development was “nauseating” and an affront to the peace and democracy of Ghana, especially at a time the country is waiting on President Nana Akufo-Addo to take decisive action on operations of these militia groups many classify as thugs.

“It’s nauseating…it is an insult to the Commission of Inquiry,” Mr Saani noted with concern and asked the political parties to be truthful in a bid to disband such groups.

He was very worried about the development because the training grounds for De-Eye group is at the backyard of the Commission of Inquiry which is tasked to find the circumstances that led to the violence that characterised the Ayawaso West wuogon (AWW) Constituency by-elections on January 31,2019.

“They (De-Eye) have the blessing of the very very top officials in government,” the Security analyst told Kwame Minkah, host of Ete sen.

After the documentary was shown on TV Thursday night, Ghanaians have been wondering whether President Akufo-Addo was really committed to fighting political party millitia in the country.

Just this week, in a response to the chairman of the National Democratic Congress’s letter on the disbandment of vigilante groups, Mr Akufo-Addo rejected claims that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) had enlisted party militia into the national security apparatus.

He indicated that the NPP has no plans to employ the services of party militia in the upcoming general elections in 2020.

“Firstly, contrary to your assertion, no evidence has been established at the on-going Short Commission about the sponsorship by the New Patriotic Party of vigilantes into the national security system. No such sponsorship has taken place, and none will take place. In any event, it is surely prejudicial to the work of the Commission for citizens to start drawing conclusions on the material before the Commission, prior to the Commission making its own findings and recommendations on the matter,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

But in the documentary, one the leaders of De-Eye Group, Fraser Owireku Kegya, who is referred to as “Chief of Staff”, addressed members of the militia group and told them President Akufo-Addo had asked about the group.

“Who were those nicely-dressed men at the Conference Centre?” Owireku Kegya is heard in Akan in the tape saying to the group that the president had asked about them.

That was after the group provided security at the Accra International Conference Centre on December 7, 2018. They manned the gate to the Conference Centre and were everywhere including the main entrances to the Conference Hall

The NPP held the ceremony at the Conference Centre to celebrate the legacy and launch a foundation of one of the founding fathers of the party, Simon Dombo.

This programme was attended by almost everyone who matters in the NPP, including former President John Kufuor, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife Samira.

President Akufo-Addo was the special guest of honour.