Claims of violence being overhyped - Security expert

Europa 11:31 - 20 July 2016

Ghana Armed Forces

As the country prepares for the general elections in November, concerns are being raised about security considering the allegations of some political parties and other bodies stockpiling arms for use during the elections.

Security expert, Wing Commander Patrick Sogbordjor (retired), has said the claim of violence ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana is being overhyped.

According to him, the media, political parties and other religious bodies are creating unnecessary panic about the safety of Ghanaians in the lead-up to the elections. A situation he believes, if not checked, could harm the peace of the country.

“I sincerely believe we have overhyped the issue of violence in this year’s election. As early as March [started] pushing the idea of violence in the mind of people which should not be,” he told MultiTV’s news analysis programme PM Express.

The Northern Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday alleged that Abdallah Abubakari, the Northern regional minister was distributing arms to NDC activists in Walewale and other parts of the region to attack NPP members.

At a news conference Tuesday, regional chairperson of the NPP, Bugri Nabu,

also called on the government to bring the minister to book or the NPP will be forced to defend its members.

"NDC government should bring the regional minister to book. if they bring him to come and bring conflict in the northern region then the conflict will come, Bugri Nabu said. "I hear he has distributed AK47 to his boys in Walewlae to attack our boys... and even in [the] northern region here."

“Do you think that after seeing happened in Walewale, I should wait for another incident to occur," a furious Bugri Nabu said.

However, the regional minister has denied the allegations, saying the NPP is only desperate to capture power with cheap propaganda.