Freddie Blay suspects 'powerful people' in NPP headquarters raid

The acting National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party believes some powerful people are behind a dawn raid at the party’s headquarters.

Although Freddie Blay did not mention names, he said the incident was planned to create an impression that there is no peace in the NPP.

“We are convinced that they are a junk of ‘roughians’ either sent by some individuals or by some powerful people who want to create an impression that we have a problem in our party,” he stated.

Freddie Blay repeated the account of 2nd Vice-Chairman Sammy Crabbe who reported that some six armed men in military uniforms had stormed the NPP's headquarters at 1am, Monday and r ansacked all offices in the building.

Joy News' Beatrice Adu who was at the premises early Monday morning reported that there was heavy police presence.

According to Mr Blay, security men who were at the premises during the time of the incident say the perceived military men were searching for something they could not point out.

“Later [after the perceived military men stormed the headquarters], there was a bus load of young men and one woman with shirts ‘unity and peace’ inscriptions and NPP logo. They were allowed to go upstairs by the uniformed [Military] men,” he added.

Freddie Blay told Joy News, 11 of those who came in a bus have been arrested but the men who were in military uniforms are yet to be identified.

These 11 are currently at the police headquarters in Accra, assisting with invistigation.

According to him, the party is conducting its investigations as some security men who were at the premises identified some of the assailants.

He appealed to all party members to stay calm as the police investigate the incident.

The incident is the latest of NPP troubles which began after the party emerged with a new set of executives in April 2014.

The headquarters has been a scene of recurring political clashes since Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong were elected chairman and General Secretary respectively.

In the most recent example, the windscreen of Kwabena Agyepong's car cracked after some party supporters heckled him while he tried to leave during a steering committee meeting.

On another occassion, a press conference organised by Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong was disrupted after party supporters stormed the premises.

In the most aggressive incidents the NPP has seen two of their own die in incidents linked to political violence, capping more than a year of political violence..

Two members, the Upper East regional Chairman of the party and a member at the Asawase constituency have lost their lives through these iternal issues.

Paul Afoko has also been suspended indefinitely from the party. At least 20 constituency and regional executives have also been suspended as the party tries to deal with public dissent and instill discipline.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com| Akosua Asiedua Akuffo| [email protected]