• Majority Leader of Parliament insists personnel for parliament’s security are not members of the Invincible Forces

• Minority NDC insists on background check of persons being recruited as they suspect they are members of the Invincible Forces

• Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu accuses the NDC MPs of being too partisan 

Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has denied claims by some minority members that personnel being recruited for training as security in parliament are members of vigilante group, Invincible Forces, known affiliates of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Some minority members including MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga; MP for Adaklu, Kwame Agbodza Governs; and MP for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak; have allegedly gone on air to criticize the recruitment of security personnel for Parliament, saying those being recruited are members of the Invincible Forces.
Read more: Invincible Forces storm Zabzugu NHIA office, drive out staff
They insist that unless the backgrounds of individuals being recruited are made public, they cannot guarantee the safety of NDC MPs in parliament.
The minority members further argued that the policemen attached to parliament could do the work of those being recruited.
But speaking to the issue on Accra based Okay FM, Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the NDC MPs were being too partisan on the issue and that their arguments were misplaced.
He stressed that the internal security of parliament rests with the Marshall Department.
LISTEN: Hot audio: John Boadu condemns Invincible Forces
According to him, the Parliamentary Service Board sanctioned the recruitment of 50 people for the security department and about 23 had been recruited and trained.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said there are certain areas in parliament that police personnel cannot be stationed to work, particularly in the chamber and offices of MPs.
He said even before police services were provided to parliament as an institution in 2015, it had always relied on private security people for internal security and so the Minority must not unnecessarily politicize such recruitments.
Read more: Hot Audio + VIDEO: Delta and Invincible Forces tried burning my house, car – Appiah Stadium
“What at all is wrong with the Minority? I think they have no case and have resorted to making baseless accusations when indeed they are aware of the dealings in parliament. Mahama Ayariga and co should just stop disgracing parliament” he said.
 

Describing the actions of vigilante groups as an immortal danger to Ghana’s Democracy, CODEO urged the political parties to join forces with the police to disband these groups..

The call was among key recommendations raised as part of the election monitoring group’s observation during the 2016 general elections.

“The existence of political vigilante groups is illegal and the Ghana Police Service should ban and disband these groups immediately as a matter of national security.

“The leadership of the NPP and the NDC who are largely responsible for the emergence of these groups in the 4th Republic should own up to their responsibilities and work together with the police to disband all politically affiliated vigilante groups.

“In the medium to long term, there should be a concerted effort amongst key election stakeholders to make the Inspector General of Police independent by insulating him/her from political interference by securing his/her tenure across regimes and ensuring such appointments are transparent and consultative,” a communique issued on the assessment of the 2016 presidential and general elections.

The emergence of politically aligned vigilante groups have become issue of national discussion following the activities of the Invisible Forces and the Delta Forces which are aligned to the NPP.

Several calls have been made for the government to disband the groups which have been considered threats on the country’s security.

Source: Ghana | Adomonline.com | KWAKU NTI | nanakwakunti@gmail.com @NanaKwakuNti

According to Kwabena Boakye, it is the vigilante group’s responsibility to protect the NPP’s interest not to seek their personnel interest.

Kwabena Boakye was speaking in reaction to last week’s violent takeover at the Regional Coordinating Council during which the newly appointed Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei was manhandled.

A vigilante group believed to be affiliated with the NPP, Delta Force on Friday morning stormed the premises of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, demanding the removal of the Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei.

The rowdy group destroyed some property and forced the Security Coordinator out of his office.

George Adjei was recently appointed by President Akufo-Addo, but the group has indicated that they cannot work with him because he did not contribute to the party’s electoral success.

But Kwabena Boakye said, “it is our responsibility to protect the party’s interest and to ensure that all appointees of the President feel safe while discharging their duties.”

Click on attached audio for more

SOURCE: Ghana/Adom News

According to Mr. Baako, if it is true that the Invincible Forces are now in charge of the tourist site, then the Police should not hesitate to allow justice to have its course on the group.

He said this in relation to claims by a Kintampo traditional ruler in the Brong Ahafo Region that the vigilante group remotely contributed to the tragic incident that occurred at the Kintampo waterfalls.

Nana Essah Boakuro accused the group of forcibly taking over the site without accounting to any authority.

He said in an interview with Abusua FM that the group immediately chased away the managers of the facility under orders that their party is in power.

Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Kweku Baako condemned the action saying “then and now, I’m against in principle. It’s an illegality. The Police should identify those people engaging in any such thing and if it’s true that what happened in Kintampo” is linked to the Invincible Forces, “they should search for the people and arrest them”.

He entreated the authorities to come out with the truth whether or not the waterfall has been hijacked by the Invincible Forces.

“I don’t see any material linkage between the alleged takeover by the Invincible group and the disaster . . . They’re saying they have taken over the gate and collecting money, is it not it? Did they replace the tour guide as well? Because there’s a distinction actually between manning the gate there or collecting revenue, and that professional work that the tour guides are doing . . . Did they sack them as well? Did they throw them out of the jurisdiction in terms of the management of the place?

“Is it true or it’s not true that the Invincible Forces have taken over the security there and are managing the gate, and collecting the money that people should pay? And if so, how are they managing that? Where does the money go? Apart from that, that is an illegality if they have not been authorised to do so. The Police should search for their leaders who are doing that thing and deal with them according to law,” he told Kwami Sefa Kayi on ‘kokrokoo’.

source: peacefm

Following the tragic incident which led to 19 death and 22 injuries, it has emerged that there were no trained tour guides on hand to assist during the incident.

Executives of the NPP branch in Kintampo have admitted that they took over the falls from the previous management following the victory of the party in 2016.

Though deputy General Secretary of the NPP, Nana Obiri Boahen has stated that he sees nothing wrong with the Invincible Forces taking over the administration of the Kintampo Waterfalls, the Deputy Minority Leader James Klutse Avedzi is pushing for their arrest.

According to him, the previous workers were professionally trained tour guards and could have reduced the effects of the tragedy if the takeover had not occurred.

Click on attached audio for more

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Public Safety has backed the call to arrest members of the NPP group.