"Watch Out for Your Lives" - NDC Warns Members

Perhaps, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) could not have had an opportune date to warn its members than 11th September, the day the sensibilities of the world was sent mourning by the violent attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon Complex in the United States of America (USA).

The NDC, in an official circular, a copy of which has been intercepted by The Independent has cautioned members of the party to take their personal security very seriously because information it has condenses to the effect that there are potential threats to the lives of its members.

The circular, with reference number NDC/ HQ/ 37/232 and heading PERSONAL SECURITY, was signed by a Deputy General Secretary of the party, Bede Ziedeng and copied to all executive members and leading members of the NDC.

The opening paragraph of the circular reads: "In view of the recent disturbing incidents and the light of information of potential threats to lives, the FEC- [Functional Executive Committee]- wishes to advise all Executive Members and Leading members of the Party, at the National, Regional, Constituency and Ward Levels to take their personal security very seriously".

Information available to this paper has it that the decision to send out the circular was taken by the FEC of the NDC on 9th September 2003 at the party's headquarters.

Although officials of the party were tight-lipped on possible reasons assigned by the FEC on the decision to issue that circular, The Independent gathered from unimpeachable sources at the party's headquarters that some recent incidents that in different ways represented potential dangers to some top NDC functionaries might have informed the decision.

The party hierarchy, it is contended, believes the recent near- accident involving the entourage of the party's presidential candidate and former Vice-President Prof. John Evans Atta Mills at Hohoe in the Volta Region was stage-managed by what it perceives as its enemies.

The Independent also discovered from the party's headquarters that the NDC believes recent attacks on the brother of Colonel (R'td) Gbevlo Lartey, who is a known NDC activist, might have been engineered by state security.

But The Independent gathered from the archives that President J. A. Kufuor himself or his motorcade has on about five occasions suffered a fate similar to what the NDC flagbearer went through at Hohoe.

It would be recalled that the President's convoy was first involved in an accident at Cantonments in Accra, where a veteran Police Dispatch Rider, affectionately called Burger, lost his life.

A similar thing happened to the President somewhere in the Volta Region then at Gomoa Buduburam and again in Sunyani.

The NDC circular again warned members of the party to avoid solitary movement, particularly when travelling. "As much as possible avoid travelling in the night," the circular reads. "Where necessary, it will be advisable to move accompanied".

The party also urged its members to "be on the watch-out for strangers and suspicious-looking people around your premises".

The FEC reminded the party members to "be on the watch-out for unauthorised road-blocks when travelling and also be mindful of vehicles trailing you. Take note and report any such vehicles, giving their registration nos., make of vehicle and colour".

The five point cautionary measures ended with an advise to the party members to again "be on the look-out for phone-calls from unidentified persons.

Take note of such numbers and notify the National Secretariat as soon as possible." A footnote accompanying the circular cautioned: "Please take note that the above steps are not exhaustive and do not necessarily provide any guarantees for your safety. You are advised to take any other steps you may consider necessary for your personal safety."