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Director of Operations at the National Security Secretariat, Colonel Michael Kwadwo Opoku, says it is a normal practice for national security operatives and the SWAT team to wear a mask when going on operations.

According to him, they often wear masks to prevent people from identifying them.

“The mask is to ensure that our operatives were not seen…mosquito (explanation) was a joke…we didn’t want their cover to be blown; it has been our normal practice…” he indicated when he appeared before the Emile Short Commission, Wednesday.

The masked men even though they were fierce looking, Col Opoku says their presence was to "give public confidence" to voters and all present that nothing bad was going to happen or tolerated.

It may be recalled that when DSP Samuel Azugu appeared before the Commission, he indicated that the operatives wear masks sometimes to prevent mosquito bites, but he doesn’t know why they wore the mask during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.

However, Col Opoku gave a different view. According to him, the team wore the mask before setting off from their location and since DSP Azugu moved with them, he was aware they were wearing masks and why.


According to him, "DSP Azugu was here for hours, his thinking capabilities might have failed him."