The allegation made by Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu to the effect that the new appointment made at the National Security by the President is meant to help the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) break the 8-year electoral cycle, should be investigated, a Security Expert Dr Adam Bonaa, has said.
In the view of Dr Bonaa, this is a serious claim that should not be swept under the carpet.
Mr Akufo-Addo has appointed Mr Edward Asomani as the new National Security Coordinator. Until his appointment, Mr Asomani, was the Deputy National Security Coordinator.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency Mr Eugene Arhin on Friday August 5.
The confirmation of his appointment is subject to the receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the National Security Council, given in consultation with the Public Services Commission, the statement said.
The National Security Coordinator Amb. Maj Gen (Rtd) Francis Adu-Amanfoh, according to the statement, was reassigned with effect from last Monday August 8th, 2022 to act as Special Advisor to the President for the Accra Initiative.
The Accra Initiative was launched in September 2017 by Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo in response to growing insecurity linked to violent extremism in the region.
The President also appointed Nana Attobrah Quaicoe to act, with effect from last Monday 8th August 2022 as Director-General of of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
“Confirmation of his appointment also being subject to the receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the National Security Council, given in consultation with the Public Services Commission,” the statement stressed.
This comes after Mr Akufo-Addo appointed Mr Kwaku Domfeh as Ambassador-designate to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Reacting to these appointments in a statement on Thursday Augist 11 , Mr Martin Amidu said “The appointment by the President of Mr. Edward Asomani, Deputy National Security Co-ordinator, to act as National Security Co-ordinator, with effect from Monday, 8th August 2022 subject to the confirmation of his appointment to the receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the National Security Council, given in consultation with the Public Service Commission gives finality to Nana Akufo-Addo’s long game to capture the National Security Secretariat apparatus towards his electoral agenda for the 2024 parliamentary and presidential elections.
“The President by the same press release also appointed Nana Attobrah Quaicoe, Deputy Director-General of the NIB, to act with effect from Monday, 8th August 2022, as the Director-General of National Intelligence Bureau, with his confirmation also being subject to the receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the National Security Council, given in consultation with the Public Service Commission as part of Nana Akufo-Addo’s long game to capture the National Intelligence Bureau apparatus towards his electoral agenda for the 2024 parliamentary and presidential elections.”
Asked whether this has come to his attention while speaking on the mid day news with Komla Adom on TV3 Friday August 12, Dr Adam Bonaa said “I must admit, it has not come to my attention but probably this needs to be investigated. Some of us will have to go behind the scenes and and try to find out, could this be possible?
“Regarding the appointment, both gentlemen have come from the Danquah Institute and so that allegation has been flying all over that Mr Otchere-Darko [Founder of the Institute] has been scheming to get their people probably in places, with the tacit support of the President. I don’t have any information on that but it is important to say that this needs to be investigated by some us is, go behind and find out any legitimacy with regards to what he is saying.
“Martin Amidu raises a lot of issues which I think border on our safety, bother on our security because everything election in this country, everything national security should be of utmost importance to all of us
“As a far as I am concerned let us not just sweep under the carpet what the former Special Prosecutor is saying. There will be a reasons why he saying this that but I don’t have any information on that.”
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana