Ashaiman NPP stockpiling guns ahead of Dec. 7

Credible and bloodcurdling information, gathered by the investigative team of The National Tribute has revealed that, the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashaiman constituency is ready to cause mayhem during the general elections in the area.

The paper's investigative team can confidently report that the NPP in the constituency, a constituency which is rated as one of the violent-prone areas in the country is stockpiling guns and other equally dangerously weapons ahead of December 7 elections.

Our investigations have revealed that the weapons are being kept at one of the violent places in the constituency, an area which is not far from the Ashaiman Divisional Police Headquarters and our source have indicated that they will be used by some miscreants to cause confusion during the elections.

The paper can also reliably reveal that the party in the constituency has recruited thugs, mainly made up of miscreants who smoke marijuana and have no sleeping places except where they term Ghetto-places to handle the weapons during the elections.

According to our sources, the jobless young men, numbering over two hundred (200), were recruited with very little efforts because of their vulnerable conditions and have been undergoing training for over a month now.

The thugs, according to our sources, are being trained to handle and operate the deadly weapons which have been smuggled into the constituency.

Our sources also revealed that the weapon training being given to the recruits is under the watch of hired retired military instructors at an undisclosed place within the municipality.

The paper is unable, for now, to tell exactly where the guns were brought into the constituency from and who the financiers are.

The NPP is engaging in such act in a constituency which is a traditional seat for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Ashaiman is one of the flash point constituencies in Ghana likely to experience bouts of violence before, during and after the December 7 general elections according to an Electoral Commission report.

The Chairperson of the EC, Charlotte Osei, made the revelation some few month ago and said plans were afoot to ensure that polling stations in these constituencies are safely guarded with the maximum security from the police service.

It is, however, worrisome that if the police and other security agencies in the Ashaiman constituency do not put more stringent measures in place to check the current development, it could be too late for the area during and after the elections.

"This is a serious matter that the police must work on. The issue of stockpiling guns in an already violent place is too dangerous," a source pleaded.

The sources charged the police to intervene in the matter and bring the culprits to book else "people will take the law into their own hands".

It is recalled that the Foundation for Security Development in Africa, FOSDA, a Non-Governmental Organization, (NGO), recently in a programme held in Ashaiman, noted that indicators that led to violence in some African countries are rife in Ghana during the elections.

According to FOSDA, internationally, Ghana's democracy, which can be described as a matured democracy by all standards, still has indicators that led to violence in some countries. This, according to FOSDA, is due to the use of intemperate language by politicians.

This came to light when the Executive Director for the foundation, Madam Afi Yakubu, was addressing some youth at a youth programme to educate them on the need for a peaceful elections.

The programme, which was organized by FOSDA, is aimed at training some 25 youth within Ashaiman and its surrounding areas as peace ambassadors to propagate peace before, during and after the December polls.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Ashaiman, Mr Ibrahim Baidoo during the programme noted that though Ashaiman is tagged by the police as a flash point, it has conducted itself well over the years.

He said Ashaiman, in the last elections, did not record any major incident of electoral violence.

This, he said, was due to strict measures put in place by the Municipal Security Council.

"Though Ashaiman is tagged as a flash point, the Assembly, together with the security, has put in place some measures to ensure no incident of violence is recorded in the December polls as far as Ashaiman is concerned."

Mr. Baidoo advised the youth to ensure that at all times, they uphold the peace they enjoy, and must not allow any politician to use them to perpetuate any act of violence before, during and after the elections.

The youth, on their part, promised to be promoters of peace in their various communities to ensure a violent-free election.