Bryan Acheampong's role is second to none – Governance Expert

General News of Sunday, February 17, 2019

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

2019-02-17

Dr. Angela Dwamena-Aboagye, Executive Director of the Ark Foundation, Ghana, questioned the reason for having a minister in charge of national security while the constitution already has existing structures to deal effectively with national security issues vis-à-vis the Minister of National Security.

The National Security Council, which includes the President, the Vice President, the Ministers of Defense and Interior, the IGP, among others, is responsible for coordinating the national security policy and to advise on issues related to national security.

However, under the Akufo-Addo government, there is, besides the ministers of the Interior, Defense and National Security, a minister in charge of National Security, Bryan Acheampong.

In her speech to Joynews' Newsfile on Saturday, Dr. Dwamena-Aboagye called for a clear description of the roles and responsibilities of Minister of State for National Security Bryan Acheampong. According to her, the current structure of the national security apparatus makes it very inefficient, so that it is difficult to determine who is responsible and regardless of his ability at any given time.

The contradictions that appeared during the first two days of the commission of inquiry, she said, are sufficient to prove that there are huge gaps in the coordination system at the national security level.

A clear understanding of the difference in functions and responsibilities of the Minister of State for Security and National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah, she believes, will put a lot of perspective into coordination process.

"I wondered what is the true mandate of the State Minister for National Security, because he has a national security council established by the constitution, we know those who are supposed to be members of this constitution and therefore, if a minister of state comes in, what is he supposed to do exactly face a national council established by the constitution? She asked.

Adding: "It must be clear, what exactly does it mean? Minister of State for National Security, Deputy Minister of National Security. There is something wrong with this arrangement and even its ability to take responsibility for what has happened. "
"The question of who is leading, who is responsible, who has coordinated what, is still outstanding."

Ms. Dwamena-Aboagye was convinced that the recommendations of the Emile Short Inquiry Committee in this regard would help to dispel much confusion.

"One of the things the commission should be able to do for us is to make clear recommendations that will benefit Ghanaians in terms of coordination. Who coordinates what, especially in an area as important as security, there are obviously huge gaps in coordination, "she said.

His comments come after two days of sitting of the commission chaired by Judge Emile Short, instructed by the president to investigate the violence that nearly marred the by-elections of Ayawaso West Wuogon on January 31.

Police and national security officials appear to be contradicting each other in their televised report to the Commission on Disorders During the Elections.

While the national security chiefs who appeared before the same commission on Thursday said that the SWAT police vehicles used belonged to the service and that the masked men who were occupying them were police officers, George Alex Mensah said in his account. delivered Friday.

He added that the police did not know anything about the masked men and the vehicle they were using.

On the same day, the East Legon Police Commander, under whose jurisdiction the by-election and related violence took place, also stated that he had been completely excluded from the planning process of the by-election, but that he was aware of a National Security working group. deployed to monitor the elections.