The National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dappah, has indicated that the country’s security architecture will respect the rule of law and the fundamental human rights of citizens without compromising security.
Mr. Kan Dappah maintained that the security setup will not allow anyone to pose a threat to the country.
The operations of National Security have come under the radar in recent times following the alleged involvement of operatives in some illegal activities and the abuse of persons in their custody such as the recent arrest of Citi FM and Citi TV journalists, and the subsequent invasion of the premises of the media house last month.
But speaking at the launch of a national security strategy document on Monday, June 7, 2021, Albert Kan Dappah said national security will not compromise on the general security of the country.
He however said the security architecture will always respect the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
“…And may I assure all Ghanaians that we pledge to respect the rule of law, fundamental human rights, and freedoms of all Ghanaians as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, but let me also caution that the respect for human rights cannot and must not be compromised with strategic threats to national security”.
Several organisations and individuals have called for reforms in the way the National Security particularly carries out its operations.
About Caleb Kudah’s ordeal
Mr. Caleb Kudah was arrested at the National Security Ministry on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, for filming abandoned MASLOC vehicles parked at the premises of the Ministry.
He was at the Ministry to verify a claim by an official of MASLOC that all the cars had been given out.
This was after Caleb Kudah had complained about the wastage of public funds on social media.
A team of heavily-armed SWAT police officers subsequently were dispatched to arrest Citi News‘ Zoe Abu-Baidoo Addo at the premises of Citi FM/Citi TV.
This is because Caleb had forwarded some of the footage he captured to Zoe via WhatsApp.
Mr. Caleb Kudah in an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point Of View on Citi TV indicated that he was slapped several times by the security officers.
About 15 organizations including civil society groups and political parties, have condemned the incident and backed calls for investigations, whiles calling for reforms in the national security setup.
The National Security after preliminary investigations said its officials acted inappropriately in breach of standard procedure while accusing Mr. Kudah of unlawful entry into its premises.
They have however been unable to charge Mr. Kudah or Zoe Abu-Baidoo Addo.
Meanwhile, it has removed its Director of Operations Lieutenant Col. Frank Agyeman and three officers including the Commander of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) at the Ministry, DSP Samuel Azugu.
Col. Agyemang has subsequently been appointed as the Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces while DSP Samuel Azugu has now been sent to the National Operation Headquarters of the Ghana Police Service.
Other organised bodies have been petitioned by the management of Citi FM over the incident.
