President of the Forum for Former Members of Parliament (MPs), David Apasera, has called on government to look into the possible regularization of the reposting of the withdrawn officers with the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
According to David Apasera, his outfit believes that the action of the Military High Command is ill-timed particularly following the feud in Parliament between the Majority and Minority on budgetary issues “which seems to point to bad blood between the Legislature and Executive”.
“The forum therefore calls on the Minister of Defense, the Minister for National Security and the Ghana Armed Forces to as a matter of urgency, look into the possible regularization of the reposting of the withdrawn officers to augment the security apparatus of the number three gentleman of the land.”
David Apasera
Mr. David Apasera indicated that the pathway in Parliament should now be consensus building so as to achieve peace and harmony.
“The Forum believes and prays that it be a caution that henceforth, in the interest of the nation, any communication from any quarters whatsoever that seeks to blame, slight or score political points should be avoided.”
David Apasera
The Forum also called on interested parties to exercise restraint and calm passions adding that “the Forum wishes to use the occasion to call on all and sundry to place the survival, well-being and prosperity of our dear nation paramount above all others interest.”
Military officers withdrawal
David Apasera’s comments follow the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) withdrawing of military personnel attached to the security detail of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin for his protection.
A letter from the Ghana Armed Forces addressed to the Speaker stated that the officers were deployed without proper procedure. The letter further noted that the deployment will be regularized after their withdrawal but however, did not indicate timelines for the redeployment.
This action, has unfortunately received some backlash from the public with some suggestion that the move is politically motivated. The opposition NDC, commenting on this, has also threatened to blame government, should in case any thing happens to the Speaker of Parliament.
However, the Majority caucus in Parliament has refuted suggestions that the withdrawal of the four soldiers attached to Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, was politically motivated.
According to the Majority, the Speaker has benefited from the largest number of security personnel for his protection that none of the previous Speakers had.
“He has four Police officers in his known residence. He has three Police officers in his secretariat, and he has five other policemen in and around the Speaker’s office block any day, any time.”
Majority
The Majority also mentioned that it saw no problem with the military attempting to regularize the military security detail.
“In the event, if the military insists on regularizing his security detail, how does that compromise the Speaker’s security, or put him in harm’s way as the Speaker himself has stated?”
Majority
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