The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Eastern region has commissioned what it calls the ‘Ballot Protection Unit’ to help them protect ballot boxes in 2020.

The party is alleging that the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP), is on a mission to rig the 2020 polls hence their decision to set up the ballot protection unit.

Over 3,000 party faithfuls have been trained by the party towards this initiative, Eastern regional organizer, Seidu Kabore has hinted.

The party is looking forward to train more than 3,000, he added.

Speaking in an interview with Kwabena Agyapong on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, Seidu Kabore said, the move is to prevent the rigging machinations being planned by the NPP led by President Akufo-Addo.

The organizer said the NDC will not allow the NPP to rig the polls and subject Ghanaians to another four years of extreme hardship, incompetence, mismanagement, corruption and the appointment of family and friends.

Seidu Kabore justified the action of the party and insisted that, it is the duty of the party to prevent the occurrence of what happened in 2016.

The party he noted will further train other persons to join the ballot protection unit in order for them to have more people to protect the ballot boxes in all the voting centres in the region.

Seidu Kabore said, the NDC will match the NPP boot for boot and all individuals who have plans of causing mayhem on the election day.

He indicated the trained persons are not going to cause mayhem but provide protection for the party during rallies and on election day.

The group going by the name Mambas, Seidu Kabore said the members have been professionally trained for the job.

When asked why they have not invested in technology to rather help them collate their results he said, we have that unit but we have also formed this unit to help prevent prevent Akufo-Addo from rigging because the recent referendum has exposed the plot by the NPP to rig the polls in 2020.

“We will not sit down and allow Nana Addo and his party to use six and nine in 2020. That is why we have formed the ballot protection unit. We will protect the ballot and compliment the efforts of whoever is concerned so we will have a free, fair and transparent election.”

Meanwhile, the NPP in the region has slammed the NDC for establishing the group and has asked the police to deal with them should they engage in lawless activities.

Secretary of the party in the region, Jeff Konadu reacting to the issue said the elephant family will not be engaging in lawless acts.

He reiterated the commitment of the party to fulfill its campaign promises.

Chairman of the party, Ofosu Ampofo had hinted of plans by the. NDC to establish the ballot protection Unit.

Delivering his acceptance speech at the party’s delegates congress in 2018, Mr Ampofo said the move was to protect the interest of the party and the will of Ghanaians.

“We will protect our boxes, our agents and ensure we will be at all the 29,000 polling stations nationwide to protect the ballot boxes with the ballot box processing unit to ensure nobody cheats at the polling station,” he said.

According to Mr Ofosu, there were issues of over-voting in 2016 which led to the brutalisation of the NDC’s polling agents who refused to sign collation sheets.