The intercepted cargo truck, with registration number GS 9452 Y, according to DAILY GUIDE sources in the district, was supposed to cart its cargo from one of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) warehouses in Accra to the Northern Region when it was diverted to Ada.
Among the items seized were 100 bags of rice, 100 cartons of cooking oil, and an undisclosed amount of tinned tomatoes.
It was not immediately clear what the items were meant for, or why the BNI intercepted the goods, but information filtering in from sources close to the BNI indicated that security agencies had received signals that they were connected to the up-coming National Democratic Congress (NDC) elections in the Ada Constituency.
According to the source, who pleaded anonymity, the items were being linked to the NADMO National Coordinator, Kofi Portuphy, who hails from the area, and has an interest in the outcome of the impending congress in view of the fact that he is vying for the National Vice Chairmanship position of the party.
Following the reports, tension had been mounting in the party, with the anti-Portuphy faction threatening fire and brimstone if the vote-buying was not stopped.
Party sources said the items were to have been received on the NADMO boss’ behalf by one of his blood relations and a traditional leader (names withheld) for distribution to delegates ahead of the elections.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that in order to avert the looming danger, officials of the BNI, after brief deliberations with the party leadership and NADMO officials in Accra, took inventory of the items, after which they were sent to an undisclosed place for safe-keeping.
The cargo truck had since been released as the driver pleaded that he had been recalled for another assignment up north.
Portuphy, who used to be a pal of former President Jerry Rawlings, had switched over to join the President Atta Mills camp soon after his appointment.
He and 14 others were yesterday named as forming a block of 15 national executive aspirants, ostensibly to contest the Jerry Rawlings faction and prevent the Founder and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, who is vying for National Vice Chairperson, from making any inroads.
Other people eyeing the same position include Captain Kwadwo Buta, and Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah, CEO of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO).
All efforts to get the NADMO Coordinator to comment on the matter failed. A voice from his office told the paper he had not yet returned from Copenhagen, where he attended the just-ended UN Conference on Climate Change.
By Bennett Akuaku