Akufo-Addo is the principal actor behind withdrawal of military details of Speaker – Upper West NDC

The Regional Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress in the Upper West Region, Mr Puo-Ire Prosper has accused President Akufo-Addo of masterminding the withdrawal of military details of the Speaker of Parliament.

In a press statement issued out by the Regional Communication Officer, the NDC described the withdrawal of the military details of the Speaker as an attempt by the Akufo-Addo government to intimidate the Speaker and to gag him in doing his work.

”Without any scintilla of equivocation, we wish to state forcefully that, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo is the principal actor behind the withdrawal of military personnel as security detail to the Rt. Hon. Speaker. We have no reason to doubt that, this action is calculated at compromising the security strength of the Speaker to intimidate him into submitting to their sinister plans to make Ghana’s hung parliament, a rubber stamp so that, they could pass obnoxious bills like the infamous E-Levy among others” he said

The NDC in the Upper West Region expressed worry on why the respected military institution will allow themselves to be used by the Akufo-Addo government to persecute individuals.

”We find it ridiculous that, our most celebrated armed forces will lower their standards to act in cahoots with a democratic government whose regime will remain an undesirable scar in the annals of our democratic practice, to use procedural inappropriateness as a decoy to wage political wars”.

Kindly read the full press statement below

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS

UPPER WEST REGIONAL COMMUNICATION SECRETARIAT

28th January, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

WITHRAWAL OF SPEAKER BAGBIN’S MILLITARY PERSONNEL AND MATTERS ARISING

The National Democratic Congress in the Upper West Region has taken keen note of the bizarre circumstances under which some four military personnel attached to the Parliamentary Service of Ghana to be part of the personal security detail of the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament were withdrawn.

We have taken note that, in a letter dated 11th January, 2022 with reference number GHQ/1002/61/COS and signed by Mj. Gen. NP Andoh, the President of the Republic of Ghana using the Ghana Armed Forces as proxy for a political retribution against the Rt. Hon Speaker indicated that, their own initial approval and attachment of military personnel to strengthen the security detail of Speaker of Parliament was without proper procedure. The letter further indicated that, the withdrawal was to take effect from 14th January, 2022, “while efforts are being made to regularize their attachment.”

We are also privy to a press release from the Ministry of National Security dated 15th January, 2022 and with reference number MNS/NSC/15/01/22/15. In the said release, the ministry unwittingly exposed the sinister agenda of the governing NPP by indicating that the military has not been part of the security architecture of parliament, when it is trite knowledge that, the current marshal of parliament is a serving military officer with the Ghana Armed Forces.
In his bid to hide their monumental shame in the unfolding story, the now discredited and extremely partisan Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu exacerbated the imbroglio, when he sought to justify the withdrawal of Mr. Speaker’s security in his response to the minority groups outburst against the act. Mr. Kyei Mensah Bonsu’s outburst has confirmed his suspected deep seated hatred and envy against the Rt. Hon. Speaker and his unmatched parliamentary experience.

In no uncertain terms, we associate ourselves with the minority group in parliament, the thousands of well-meaning Ghanaians and several groups and entities to condemn this act of shame.

We find it ridiculous that, our most celebrated armed forces will lower their standards to act in cahoots with a democratic government whose regime will remain an undesirable scar in the annals of our democratic practice, to use procedural inappropriateness as a decoy to wage political wars. It is interesting to note that, after 14 clear days of withdrawing Mr. Speakers military cover, the ranks of the much taunted Ghana Armed Forces are unable to correct whatever inappropriate breach in procedure, to have Mr. Speakers military cover formalized. We are more than convinced that, but for the invisible long hand manipulating processes from the seat of government, The Ghana Armed Forces is not as incompetent as being presented under the current circumstances.

Without any scintilla of equivocation, we wish to state forcefully that, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo is the principal actor behind the withdrawal of military personnel as security detail to the Rt. Hon. Speaker. We have no reason to doubt that, this action is calculated at compromising the security strength of the Speaker to intimidate him into submitting to their sinister plans to make Ghana’s hung parliament, a rubber stamp so that, they could pass obnoxious bills like the infamous E-Levy among others.

We are equally of the considered view that, some power brokers within this regime also have significant interest in compromising the security strength of the Speaker of Parliament to enable them push through their LGBTQ+++ advocacy, since Mr. Speaker is noted to have publicly stated his outmost revulsion towards the ungodly act.

At a period where the security situation of the West African Sub-region is noted to be volatile and quiet precarious, coupled with pockets of violence and rising tensions within certain parts of the country, one would have thought that, President Akufo Addo who doubles as Commander- in- Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and Chair Person of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State would have concerned himself with securing our relatively fragile peace and harmonizing our individual differences for the collective benefits of the country.

Rather, we see him as extremely partisan, irredeemably nepotistic and sadly, very much allergic to dissenting opinions.

Prior to his election as President of Ghana, he was taunted and celebrated by his rented media surrogates and bootlicking faithful within the NPP, as a renowned patriot and one who believed in the tenets of democracy. Little did the unsuspecting masses know that, all those accolades were just but an ideological smoke screen to hide his innate dictatorial tendencies and falsely brand him as good before the innocent electorate.

Unfortunately, six years under the laborious regime of President Akufo Addo has confirmed the age old dictum that, when rain falls on a leopard, it does not wash off its spots.

We wish to remind President Akufo Addo of the sacred presidential oath he took to dedicate himself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana and to do right to all manner of persons.

We further remind him that, Ghanaians opted for democracy with the attendant principles of equality before the law and the principle of separation of powers.

The bastardization of state institutions under his regime to satisfy political whims and caprices is unprecedented and much more regrettable. We ask him to eat the humble pie and abdicate as President if the conditions of the presidential oath are too heavy for his shoulders to bear. We equally wish to call on the international community and all well- meaning Ghanaians to have their eyes fixed on President Akufo Addo as Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, to guarantee the safety and security of the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin. Let President Akufo Addo be reminded that, any security lapse or defect on Speaker Bagbin shall be hanged solely on his neck as President.

We are on this note calling on the Chief of Defense Staff together with the rank and file of the Ghana Armed Forces to remember that, the Ghana Armed forces has carved for itself an enviable niche in terms of professionalism and loyalty to the state. We call on them to insulate the armed forces from the cancerous political infiltration and manipulations of the Akufo Addo’s government and live up their calling of defending the constitution of Ghana and the sovereign interest of the state.

We are aware that certain state actors such as the Attorney General, Commissioners at the Electoral Commission, some members of the judiciary and even non state actors including pastors and traditional rulers have military cover as security details.

The humble request for security cover by Speaker Bagbin (the number 3 gentleman of the land) cannot be seen as exceptional. We therefore demand an unconditional and immediate reinstatement of the military personnel attached to the Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin.

We wish to assure President Akufo Addo that, anything short of this, will leave the youth from the Upper West Region with no option than liaising with our traditional authorities to mobilise very capable youth to provide Speaker Bagbin with a trusted security cover in all his engagements.

END

Signed
Puo-Ire Prosper
RCO
0204852735