NDC Professionals Forum North America has petitioned the National Peace Council (NPC) to “prevail on the government of President Akufo-Addo to desist” from acts they say threaten the 2020 elections.

The group is referring particularly to allegations that the government has been giving its party militia military training at Asutsuare.

The NDC Pro-Forum has petitioned the Peace Council to “act as the leader that the citizens empowered him to be.”

The training according to sources is part of the New Patriotic Party’s preparations for the 2020 elections and is meant to create a residual, well trained, loyal force that will foment trouble and create fear and panic to the advantage of the governing party.

A categorical denial by a deputy minister for defence has not been helped by the fact that the National Security ministry has in a statement confirmed the training which he said was being held for “political ends”.

In a petition titled “Help Address the Insecurity and Intimidation tactics of Government”, NDC Pro-Forum North America said the development amounts to the creation of an affiliated security structure by the NPP.

The petition signed by the President of the group Arnold Appiah alleged the training in question has been made possible by the changes that have occurred within the security structure since the NPP came into power.

The group believes such training and recruitment of party people into the military has the potential of undermining the hard won world class reputation of Ghana’s military.

Citing the example of the Ayawaso West Wuogon chaos, the NDC Pro-Forum North America said it is convinced the training of persons it calls “macho-men” is to “unleash violence and intimidation on innocent Ghanaians just to ensure that the NPP hangs onto power.

“We have also seen an intercepted letter from the office of the Upper West Regional Security Coordinator requesting NPP Constituency chairmen to submit names of strong men to be trained purposefully for election 2020; which suggests formation of a militia,” the statement indicated.

The NDC group also referred to government’s refusal to prosecute some of the “operatives” that engaged in the Ayawaso West Wuogon chaos as evidence of a determination by government to “entrench” a reign of terror on Ghanaian citizens.

The recommendation for prosecution was made by the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission of Inquiry which investigated the violence that occurred during the by-election in that constituency earlier in the year and particularly referenced one of the so called National Security operatives Ernest Akomea also known as “Double”.

The NDC Pro-Forum in the petition called on Ghanaians to “add their voices to ensure that the government does not abuse its authority and plunge the country into a point of no return. Using state resources to train people to hurt the state is not Godly and just.”

“We need a country where the churches can continue to function to the glory of God. We need a country where the media can function to deepen our democracy. We need a country where business can flourish to provide opportunities and prosperity for all,” it stated.