COMMANDO PARTY AT E.T. MENSAH’S HOUSE…Threatens TODAY over story

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram, Hon. Enoch Tei Mensah, was at his vitriolic worst yesterday, threatening TODAY newspaper to deal ruthlessly with its editorial team.

The paper had sought his comments to the effect that he offered his private residence at Prampram to some Commando-trainees who had passed out of training at their Asutuare base to use for their graduation party.

When the paper had difficulty reaching the Hon. MP for his comments on Wednesday, William Beeko, a staff reporter of TODAY sent him a text to ascertain if he was aware that some Commando graduates held a party at his Prampram residence in the morning of the day.

Hon. E. T. Mensah

He also sent a similar text to the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Ishmael Ashietey, whose name came up in the story. In his reply, the Regional Minister sent a terse message: “It’s not true”! Hon. E.T. Mensah however called the next day, Thursday, September 3, 2009 ranting:

“I don’t know anything about any Commandos. Commandos, and so what?  I don’t remember the last time I went to my home town, Ningo Prampram”, Hon. E.T Mensah shouted on the phone…

“I will sue TODAY newspaper, if you publish any story. I have saved your text message and I will go to the court of law. Young man, stop this. If somebody is trying to use you, stop this. Why should you do that! Commandos, Commandos and so what?, Hon. E.T Mensah said cheekily.

The paper’s findings at the Prampram Township established that the Commando trainees who graduated some two weeks ago from their training base at Asutuare in the Eastern Region were treated to a rare party time at the private residence of Mr. E.T. Mensah at Prampram.

The 100 Commando graduates were joined by other colleague trainee-Commandos who currently are going through the second phase of the training exercise in the partying fiesta. About 400 Commandos gathered for the event.

The original idea of organizing the event at the Asutuare Training camp was changed at the last minute to avoid the possibility of indigenes and people of Asutuare getting to know of the event. It was supposed to be a strict private security affair with no participation from the general public.   The organizers therefore decided to shift the party to Prampram, organize it at a place it was going to be very difficult for intruders.

Funding support for the event, TODAY can state on authority, was provided by Greater Accra Regional Administration, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and all other Districts in the Greater Accra Region.

A request for the funding was put forward by the leadership and other Commando instructors at a meeting between the Greater Accra Regional Administration, the AMA and other Greater Accra Districts at the offices of the Regional Administration on Monday, August 31, 2009.

The stakeholders at the meeting, TODAY’s hounds discovered gleefully obliged where an undisclosed amount of money and other drinks were provided for the graduation party. The event itself started at 9 am under very tight security surveillance.

Hon. Mensah’s house which is outskirt of the Prampram Township was cordoned off from the prying eyes of the general public with security patrols. Commercial vehicles to and from Prampram were barred from stopping or picking passengers around the E.T. Mensah residence.

Commuters whose gesture suggested that they might have heard of the event and therefore want to be inquisitive were politely asked by the security detail to ward-off. Others who proved intransigent were doubled by the security men.

TODAY established from underground probing that most of the graduands were clad in NDC paraphernalia, establishing the fact that the exercise was meant for many unemployed rank and file members of the ruling party.