Former President John Mahama has alleged that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) is training thugs in batches at Asutuare to cause mayhem during the 2020 polls.

Speaking about electoral violence during a visit by the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Mahama said he prays the level of violence that marred the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election is not repeated on a nationwide scale.

“We remember what happened in Ayawaso West Wuogon. I pray that, God forbid, nothing like that ever happens again. But you know the issue of vigilantes, especially one party is training vigilantes.

“I remember at the time of Ayawaso West Wuogon, there was a letter that came out asking party executives to bring able-bodied people to be trained as security.

“Since then, we have evidence that those people have been to Asutuare and trained in batches over and over again in all kinds of combat techniques and other things.

“It’s is a worry that Ayawaso West Wuogon will be repeated on a larger scale than it did”, Mr Mahama, who is the main opposition National Democratic Congress’ 2020 flag bearer said.

He added: “This was only a by-election but the way things are going and from what we are hearing, it is possible that some sinister force is preparing to wreak violence during the [general] elections and this is something that we must look at.”