Conflict resolution and peace-building consultant, Emmanuel Bombande has stated that it is highly dangerous for a political party to resort to private security to protect its leaders instead of the State’s Police.
His comments follow the arrest of three South African ex-police officers in the country who have been dragged to court for training private security personnel for the leaders of the opposition New Patriotic Party.
Mr. Bombande in a Twitter post said though alternative security arrangement were good, it has dire repercussions on the nation’s democracy.
“To think an alternative security arrangement other than the Ghana Police Service is good for Political party [but it] is a threat to our democracy,” he added.
But the NPP’s Deputy Director of Communications, Perry Okudzeto had argued that the growing popularity of the flagbearer and the running mate meant that they needed proper protection
“The continuous popularity of our Flagbearer and running mate requires that our security detail is trained on how to handle crowd and are trained on crowd control techniques and that is simply what this is about. So it’s a licensed Ghanaian security company training our people with the help of consultants from South Africa” Mr. Okudzeto explained.
Mr. Okudzeto also stressed that their men were not being trained in weapon handling and that the alarm being created was needless.
The NPP has also stated that it will resist any form of intimidation from the government ahead of the November polls.
The NPP is alleging the government masterminded the arrest of their three South African security consultants and the Head of the Security detail of their Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo Addo and his running mate Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.
The three South Africans, ex-Police Officers, were arrested on Sunday for training private security personnel of NPP’s Presidential Candidate.
The three, Major Ahmed Shaik Hazis (rtd), 54; Warrant Officer Denver Dwayhe, 33, and Captain Mlungiseli Jokani, 45 have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime and unlawful training.
The Head of Nana Addo’s security team Captain (rtd) Edmund Koda and the owner of the EL-Capitano Hotel Captain (rtd) Acquah were also arrested and have been charged.
