Violence in by-elections: masked members of security come to check party militias – National Security



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The Director of National Security Operations explained for the first time why security officers who stormed the NDC candidate 's home during the by – election wore a mask.

Colonel Micheal Opoku (retired) told the Emile Short Commission that the masked men who had stormed Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in intimidating safety equipment, were there to build trust.

He said at commission On Wednesday, it was part of the maneuvers to rebadure voters, security was at the rendezvous and no militia group can disrupt the activities of the day.

"The essence of the trust patrol was to let people in the riding know that the security forces were ready to ensure that no self-defense group as we know could disrupt the elections that day … ", he explained.

He added that: "The mask, my DSP [Azugu] said was for [prevent] mosquito bites, was just a joke. But we usually hide to ensure that our agents are not seen especially. Normally, those who live or are likely to be seen in communities and whose coverage needs to be swept are masked, "he said.

Colonel Michael Nana Opoku (rtd)

Several armed and masked men stormed the candidate's home in La Bawaleshie on the intelligence that some weapons were stored there.

At least 16 people were injured in a fight that followed and several Ghanaians condemned the SWAT team for donning masks.

But if national security has called this activity to build confidence, suggested a member of the Commission, the Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, this undermined confidence.

Colonel Opoku, who was certain that masked men established the confidence of the electorate in the performance of his duties, promised to provide a tape to the Commission on the threats to these men.

"I'll give you l & # 39; Audio where some people said that they were going to sue the masked men. I do not know how they are going unmask and if the worst happens, they risk kidnapping their families to make sure they come forward, "he said.

According to him, it had been decided that officers would wear masks before leaving for the constituency, adding that this was a "usual practice" even at headquarters.

CMember of SWAT National Security Unit, DSP Samuel Azugu

It was contradictory becauseA member of the SWAT National Security Unit, DSP Samuel Azugu, had previously told the Commission that he did not know why the team led by him took responsibility for the by-election wearing masks.

He told the Commission that in some cases the team had the right to wear masks, but that this did not require them to wear them and that he was unable to say why they had done so. .

But Colonel Opoku said he was not surprised, he said that "because he was here [sitting] for nearly four hours and his thinking skills began to cause him problems, so he had to make jokes about it. "

Colonel Opoku also defended the presence of security agents, claiming that they had been instructed to monitor and provide surveillance.

He also stated that it was not necessary to have shared with the police the information that she had collected.

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