Member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Western Region, John. M. Essien popularly known as Popo One has opined that the party will be recruiting vigilante group called 'The Hawks' to intimidate the NPP members in Ellembelle Constituency and other constituencies.

On Saturday, 28 April, 2018, two heavily-muscled men in black T-shirts branded as ‘The Hawks’, were seen carrying out security duties at the party’s Unity Walk held in the Ashanti Region. Reports from the grounds of the unity walk indicate that The Hawks coordinated the event.

After the Unity Walk some members of the party endorsed the vigilante group hence welcomed it as good move. Notable is the former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ejisu-Juabeng, Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh who has endorsed the group and promised to use them in 2020 general elections and even in opposition.

“The vigilante group that has emerged in the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) known as The Hawks, will provide security for the party and its officials while in opposition, former Ejisu/Juabeng municipal chief executive”, Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh, has said.

"The Hawks will provide security for the party and its officials while in opposition", he emphasized.

But commenting on the newly NDC vigilante group 'The Hawks' on social media, the NDC Communicator who is a tutor of Bonzo Kaku Senior High School in Ellembelle, indicated that the vigilante group would be helpful to the party in the Region. He added that the party will recruit 'The Hawks' first in the Ellembelle Constituency of Western Region with the aim to cause fear to the ruling NPP.

He also emphasized that he would personally recruit 'The Hawks' and make Ellembelle a no go area for the NPP. "I, Popo 1 will personally recruit The Hawks in Ellembelle by 2020 to make Ellembelle a no go area for Nana corrupt Addo and his bunch of NPP thieves", he emphasized.

He added that the party will make sure that these fearless faces would be recruited in Jomoro and Evalue Ajomoro-Gwira Constituencies respectively and face the NPP vigilante groups called Invisible Forces and Delta Forces in 2020.

"We will storm Jomoro and Evaloe Gwira Constituencies in addition" By 2020, Ellembelle will be a NO GO ZONE for any political party apart from the NDC, to Aiyinasi East to west from Aiyinasi North to South", he stated

His remarks have posed a serious threat to the NPP in the Region especially in Ellembelle Constituency. In 2012 and 2016 general elections, the NDC recruited some youth and trained them to protect ballot boxes for the party in Ellembelle and they were named Actions Boys.

The NPP at that time complained bitterly that the Action Boys were recruited to intimidate them not to protect any ballot box.