The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) said the National Security apparatus needs broader reforms following the recent arrest of Citi FM/TV’s Caleb Kudah.
In a statement, the civil society organisation said the national security minister and the government must capitalise on the incident to “pursue more far-reaching reforms” in the national security set up and its operations.
Last week, the Ministry of National Security concluded its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Kudah, and established that its officers’ conduct was “inappropriate and contravened the standard operating procedures” of the ministry.
Consequently, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Agyeman, the director of operations at National Security, and three other officers have been withdrawn from the ministry and asked to report at their respective bases for investigation.
In a press statement, the ministry said: “The secondment of Lieutenant Colonel Frank Agyeman (director of operations) at the ministry has been reversed. The officer is to report to the Chief of Defence Staff for further investigations and appropriate action.”
Three other National Security personnel involved in the arrest have been withdrawn and instructed to report to the Ghana Police Service for investigation.
Welcoming news
CDD-Ghana said it “welcomes” the outcome of the investigations, but a lot needs to be done to repair the damage caused.
“CDD-Ghana would like to implore the Government and the Minister of National Security to see and seize upon this incident as an opportunity to pursue more far reaching reforms in the National Security apparatus and its operations, as the problem highlighted by the Kudah/CITI FM case is longstanding, recurring and systemic. This latest incident indeed highlights the importance of taking seriously the observations and recommendations of the Emile Short Commission.
“Among other things, the Short Commission recommended that, “operatives of the National Security Council should be trained to internalize human rights rules including the provisions on the fundamental human rights of the Constitution within their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).” It is clear from both the incidents at the National Security compound involving Mr. Kudah and on the CITI FM premises, including the attempt to “arrest” Ms Zoe Abu Baidoe of CITI FM, that the admonition and recommendation of the Short Commission, including in the area of recruitment and training, have not been heeded or implemented,” the CDD-Ghana statement said.
Change in orientation
It added: “Not only is a total change in orientation needed and long overdue, the current architecture of National Security, including the lines of accountability, authority, command, and responsibility, also needs a relook. While the Security and Intelligence Act 2020 (Act 1030) sought to answer some of the pre-existing structural and functional challenges, it does not appear to have gone far enough.
“Interagency and interpersonal turf battles evidently persist. With the designation and appointment of a Minister in charge of National Security (both under this President and former President Kufuor) it was expected that the “national security” function and apparatus would be both better streamlined and brought under firmer civilian political control, including from Parliament. Unfortunately, these formal organizational changes have not translated into visible change in the way “National Security” operates or in the way citizens perceive and experience “National Security”.
“Indeed, it appears that the Minister for National Security has no proper or effective oversight of the operations of the so-called National Security “Secretariat”. Moreover, it is not clear what oversight Parliament has or exercises over the Minister, Ministry or the National Security Secretariat.”
Below is the full statement:
CDD-Ghana Press Statement – RE-National Security Actions in Caleb_Citi FM Case by KM on Scribd
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