Wa Central MP denies existence of NDC vigilante groups

Member of Parliament for Wa Central Constituency Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo says there are no vigilante groups within the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He stated, however, that the party may be forced to form such groups if the current operations of pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) vigilante groups are not kept in check.

He was speaking on TV3’s New Day on Saturday.

But his assertion comes as a surprise to many considering the recent unveiling of The Hawks by a former minister of state, Joseph Yammin, who lost the Ashanti Region NDC Chairmanship race.

The muscular men, wearing black T-shirts, guarded the former Deputy Youth and Sports at the regional congress.

The Hawks guarded Joseph Yammin during the Ashanti Regional congress in August General Secretary of the party Johnson Asiedu Nketia has hinted other pro-NDC vigilante groups will be formed before 2020 if the NPP do not clamp down on theirs.

Even before them were Azorka Boys, who terrorised opponents in their halcyon days.

But Dr Pelpuo says it has not gotten to the stage for the NDC to match the NPP in equal measure.

Asked about the Azorka Boys, the former minister of state said that group was disbanded long ago and does not remember the last of them.

He listed a number of political vigilante groups including Delta Forces, Kandahar Boys, Bolga Bull Dogs and Invisible Forces, saying all are affiliated to the NPP.

Also on the programme to comment on the brazen attacks by these groups on public officials, Joe Jackson, a political analyst, said the two major political parties must be condemned for the phenomenon.

He particularly condemned the NDC’s intention to found such groups, saying it is hypocritical to condemn the menace in one breath and declare the intention to form one in the other.



The Chief Operations Officer of Dalex Finance says the phenomenon, if not checked, could be a recipe for disaster for all in 2020.

“Can you imagine an election in 2020 when both parties have vigilante groups trying to protect the ballot box? That is a recipe for chaos and disaster and both parties should be condemned for their positions on those issues.”