The Director of Operations at National Security has said a leader of the
pro-National Democratic Congress group The Hawks, was arrested during
the confusion at the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.
Colonel Michael Opoku, in his testimony before the Emile Short
Commission, described the man arrested as “the face of the Hawks on the
internet.”
“After the arrest, the picture I saw; I saw one huge person and I was
told he was the leader of the Hawks vigilante group. I actually googled
the picture and I saw that he was the leader.”
According to the testimony of a number of security chiefs during the
commission hearings, the involvement of SWAT team, which was caught on
video brutalising some citizens, was based on intelligence that there
were weapons in the home of the NDC candidate in the by-election, Delali Brempong.
National Security also claims the intelligence pointed towards men from
Kumasi and Tamale moving to the area, who posed a security threat.
“My commander had intimated that they were moving in with some weapons…
most especially those who had come from Tamale and Kumasi,” Colonel
Opoku said.
He also maintained that the SWAT team responded to gunshots from the NDC
candidates home in addition of pelting of stones with warning shots.
The SWAT team in response fired six warning shots, Colonel Opoku added.
His claim adds to the scrutiny of the Hawks following a shooting
incident at the Ashanti Regional NDC office in Kumasi that left one dead
and one other injured.
Police have said four alleged members of the Hawks, are suspected to be behind the attack.
‘Leader of NDC Hawks’ was arrested during by-election – National Security Director
