General News of Monday, 30 May 2016

Source: ultimate1069.com

Invincible forces aren't vigilante groups - Freddie Blay

Acting National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay Acting National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay

The Acting National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay has stated categorically that Invincible Forces are not vigilante groups as perceived by some Ghanaians.

He allayed public fears that Invincible Forces pose a threat to security in the country.

Mr. Blay giving his party (NPP) as an example, said invincible forces are loyal members of a political party who embark on volunteerism to keep the party going.

"It’s a name, invincible forces are not a vigilante group, first of all let me tell you, invincible forces is a name given to those of our members, many of them are polling station executives, constituency executives who have volunteered that if there is any party function, anything that we are doing, if there is any need to protect our headquarters or any other offices in regions and they are there, they volunteer to do so for us.

Invincible forces as you call them are not vigilante group as the impression is being sought to create. Definitely they are there and they remain loyal members of our party," he explained.

Speaking on Ultimate breakfast show hosted by Lantam Papanko, he debunked the assertion that only the police and licensed security companies have the mandate to offer security to people or institutions.

"It’s absolutely not true that its only the security forces or licensed security forces who offer security… if I hire a watchman in my house, it is the police man who is doing that, if somebody offers a night watchman to keep my house away from intruders or armed robbers, it’s not only the police or licensed security officers who do that, definitely my child or nephew or even a friend may decide to take little money or may do it without money, that is what the invincible forces do, they don’t take any money, we are not in the position to hire people and pay them," he asserted.

The Acting National Chairman of NPP emphasised that Invincible Forces maintain peace and order during their programmes.

According to him, Invincible Forces are volunteers who offer protection to the party’s properties in all their offices across the country.

"They volunteer to keep our properties in our offices protected. As it is necessary, whenever we are holding function and we want to keep peace, control traffic, they make sure our members conform to the regulations and so forth around where we are holding the function. We make them wear special t-shirts to identify our members. If anybody thinks that they are vigilante group, that person is making a mistake," he stated.