National Security Invites Ashaiman NDC

THE ASHAIMAN Constituency Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Mohammed Gomda and his vice, Umar Shadat have told Daily Guide in separate interviews that they have been asked to report at the Osu castle. It is believed the two top NDC men have been invited to the seat of government to answer questions from national security officials in connection with their alleged involvement in the rowdy behavior of the party�s foot soldiers in Ashaiman last Friday and over the weekend. Last Friday, party foot soldiers hijacked the constituency�s main lorry station where they seized revenue tickets and an unspecified amount of money from authorized persons manning the station. Then on Saturday, the group stormed their party�s head office and attacked top NDC officials including the constituency organizer, James Vee-Jay who was said to have invited some media persons there to cover a press conference. Though they confirmed the invitation, the two NDC officials were tight-lipped over the details. They would not say who had invited them or the reason for their invitation but noted they were on their way to the castle with their lawyer, Mohammed Attah Nantogmah of the Citizens Chambers. A source in the constituency hinted Daily Guide that earlier there were plans for some national security men to pick up the duo at the Ashaiman Police Station where they were earlier on invited by the area�s police to perhaps answer questions about last Friday and Saturday�s incidents. The source continued that that plan was later aborted over fears that the move would further deepen the already bad relationship among some NDC executives in the area. Both men have denied any wrongdoing saying they did not order the foot soldiers to hijack the main lorry station or attack some of their colleagues at the party office. Reacting to the allegations, Alhaji Gomda said he was not even informed about the press conference which was being addressed by the party�s organizer. �I had just arrived at the office with Shadat (referring to his vice) when I saw some of the foot soldiers seated in a hall with James and some media men. When I enquired what was going on, the organizer answered and said he had invited the media so as to speak on some of the problems in the constituency.� He added that he proceeded to his office with his vice to discuss other issues when he later heard a commotion at the hall. It was later that he got to know that a different group had attacked the organizer and other people present at the conference, he said. He said he was also attacked by the foot soldiers and had to run for his life leaving behind one of his shoes at the party office. �How could I encourage some boys to attack them? My accusers themselves would admit that I was also not spared as they succeeded in inflicting several wounds on the head of my younger brother.� Alhaji Gomda pointed out it was a shame that people within the NDC would go to that extremes to accuse him of creating problems in the party when they know where the problem is actually coming from. Umar Shadat on his part also denied knowing anything about the attack till it occurred. Corroborating his chairman�s statement, he said they both arrived at the office and were actually in the chairman�s office when they head noise only to come out and realize that the foot soldiers were attacking their colleagues. �I even tried to warn chairman about the way and manner in which the boys were wielding offensive weapons but he said they were party boys and might have come to be part of the press conference. It was about ten minutes later after our arrival that we heard noise and came out to see that the boys were attacking almost everybody present in the office,� Shadat narrated. He said they both left the office quickly when they realized their lives may be in danger adding that it came as surprise to hear people accuse him and his chairman of masterminding the attack. �As I talk to you now chairman and I have been invited to the castle to meet some national security men. The truth is we do not know why we are being invited so we have asked our lawyer to come with us. We will find what this invitation thing is all about.� There is widespread speculation in the constituency among party members that the foot soldiers were being used by the two persons to create problems for the party in the area. The organizer James Vee-Jay in an earlier chat with DAILY GUIDE said he was convinced that both the chairman and his vice were behind the attack on him and other party members. He claimed the rampaging boys told him about this during the attack. �The chairman and his vice have not even spoken to me to find out what happened after the attack,� he said.