The General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has revealed that those forces that attacked some supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election did so to foil a well-rehearsed plan by the victims to terrorise voters at the various polling stations.
According to him, those men numbering over 300 had been camped by the NDC at the residence of their candidate, Delali Akwasi Brempong for deployment to the various polling stations to cause disturbances and 'terrorise people'.
Speaking on Asempa Fm in Accra in reaction to the "aagbe wo" demonstration, Mr. Boadu justified that after those guys who had massed up at the NDC candidate's residence were stopped from carrying out their plan, voting and counting at all the 137 polling stations went on peacefully.
"For the first time in several elections, it's only at Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election that we did not hear of or record violence at polling stations and snatching of ballot boxes, because we stopped those NDC guys".
He descended on the National Chairman of the Peoples National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah for being biased towards the NPP by always justifying and supporting the cause of NDC.
John Boadu cited Akwatia, Atiwa, Chereponi and Talensi by-elections among others, where NDC unleashed terror on NPP of which Mr Mornah failed to speak or demonstrate against.
He said at the Talensi by-election, of which Bernard Mornah's PNC had a candidate, supporters and National Chairman of NPP were beaten up by the Azorka Boys again he (Mr Mornah) failed to demonstrate against it. "When the matter was reported to the then Minister for Interior, Mark Woyongo he justified the actions of the Azorka Boys and said [violence begets violence]".
The NPP General Secretary questioned "is Bernard Mornah telling us that the NDC has monopoly when it comes to unleashing violence like John Mahama said".
Describing the 'aagbe wo' demonstrators as a "bunch of hypocrites", Mr Boadu said that the violence that took place at Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election unlike the others, did not occur at the polling stations yet Bernard Mornah and his team decided to demonstrate".
He rubbished the petition by the demonstrators asking the President to sack the Inspector General of Police, National Security Minister and the Minister in charge of National Security at the Presidency.
The NPP Scribe said emphatically that the Minister in charge of National Security, Bryan Acheampong was going nowhere!
He teased that the NDCs were like armed robbers who use guns and knives to rob people but fear to be 'pickpocketed'.
Meanwhile, the Government has set up a three member Commission of Inquiries chaired by Justice Emile Short, former Commissioner of CHRAJ.
The National Chairman of the PNC, Mr Bernard Mornah in response described as unfair for Mr John Boadu to attack his personality instead of addressing the substantive issues.
He demanded Mr Boadu to go back to records and check his protestations against the violence that took place at Talensi and others.
Asking the NPP General Secretary to stop spewing his ignorance about what happened at Atiwa, Wulensi and other by-elections, Mr. Mornah said those incidence occurred between contesting political parties but was not security persons who became the source of atrocities.
He described Mr John Boadu as "so arrogant and pompous" for stating that the Minister of State in charge of National Security, Bryan Acheampong was going nowhere, even when he has come out to admit that he assigned those who fired guns and caused mayhem at Ayawaso.
Following the comments by Mr. John Boadu, Mr. Mornah expressed lack of confidence in the Commission of Inquiries which he said was backed and controlled by the NPP.
It would be recalled that some group of macho men believed to be from the National Security stormed the residence of the NDC parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election and caused serious mayhem to about 13 persons.
, December 12, 2019