Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, has declared that he will introduce a motion for a comprehensive inquiry into the security services’ recruitment practices since 2017 when Parliament reconvenes from its recess.
Dr. Forson stressed that the credibility and public trust in Ghana’s security services depend on a shared dedication to transparency, accountability, and justice, which is crucial for maintaining their integrity and upholding the public’s faith in these vital institutions.
Accordingly, he declared that NDC MPs are dedicated in their commitment to championing the rights of Ghanaians, promoting transparency, and upholding fairness in all aspects of governance, to ensure the well-being and prosperity of the Ghanaian people.
Furthermore, Dr. Forson categorically dismissed claims that members of his caucus engaged in submitting names for recruitment into various security agencies, vehemently denying any involvement in such activities.
As such he labeled Interior Minister, Henry Quartey’s, claims as false and misleading, arguing that they are a desperate attempt to discredit his revelations about the government’s covert and illegal recruitment into the security services, which are intended to sway the outcome of the December elections.
“I challenge the Interior Minister to name the individuals he claims were brought forward by NDC MPs for recruitment. Let us move away from rhetoric and towards accountability. If the Minister cannot provide these names, then his statements must be seen for what they are: an attempt to distract from the substantive concerns we have raised”.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
However, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson reiterated his claim that the NPP has allocated 30 slots to each of its Parliamentary candidates to select and appoint party faithfuls and supporters to various positions within the security services, including the police and army, which could compromise the impartiality and professionalism of these institutions.
As such, he called on President Akufo-Addo and the government to cease what he termed as authoritarian actions, emphasizing the imperative need for openness, accountability, and equity in the recruitment processes within the security services, to ensure a just and democratic society.
NPP Rebuts Minority Leader’s Allegations
Meanwhile, the ruling NPP vehemently rejected the allegations made by the Minority Leader, expressing disappointment and surprise that the Minority Leader himself would publicly propagate such a falsehood, which is entirely unfounded and without basis.
Furthermore, the NPP pointed out that in recent years, numerous individuals have purchased application forms but were unable to secure admission into the security and intelligence agencies, citing this as a common occurrence that warrants no attention and explanation.
As such, the NPP contended that the government decided it was prudent to discontinue advertising for recruitment, as a fixed number of individuals have already been cleared for recruitment, making it unnecessary for others to continue paying application fees.
Accordingly, the party vehemently denied the accusation that it allocated 30 slots to MPs, labeling it as a falsehood with no basis in reality.
The NPP insisted that allocating slots for MPs has never occurred in the past and expressed surprise that the opposition is pursuing this unfounded claim.
“MPs currently are about 137…it cannot be possible, it is not and it cannot be possible. I am rather disappointed in this approach…Yes, we are recruiting but it is not a secret recruitment. We haven’t even started. The agencies are going to send the eligibility criteria. I am sure by this week they will do that”.
NPP
Thus, the NPP argued that allocating 30 slots per MP (totaling 4,110) is unrealistic and unsustainable, as security forces typically recruit only 1,000-1,200 personnel annually, far fewer than the total slots requested.
The NPP also accused the minority of spreading false information and undermining government integrity, urging the minority to stop peddling falsehoods and respect the public’s intelligence.
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