National Security should act more professionally -James Agalga

The Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee in Parliament, Mr James Agalga, has condemned the unprofessional conduct of the security agencies in the country in recent times, saying the mode of recruitment into these agencies was the cause of these unprofessional conducts.
These individuals, he continued, don’t have the background or academic qualifications to be enrolled in our security services, but due to their party affiliations, they are recruited.
“When we see the security agencies spend a lot of time clamping down on political opponents because people decide to exercise their constitutional rights and speak out against happenings in the country, it is a very dangerous development.
“I am very certain that the reason why officers who are supposed to be professionals in carrying out their duties, even when it comes to effecting arrests, can no longer do it in a professional manner, is because of the recruitment of hoodlums and party vigilantes into our security agencies.
“Party faithful have infiltrated our security services, and we are now reaping the effects of recruitment of unqualified persons into our security agencies,” he said.
Mr Agalga was reacting to the manner in which Apostle Kwabena Adjei, who was arrested on Tuesday by the National Security, was handled.
It will be recalled that Apostle Kwabena Adjei has been issuing warnings and threatening statements over the compilation of the new voters’ register to be used for the upcoming general elections this year.
The pastor, at an online Church Service live on Facebook last Sunday, served a strong warning to the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Jean Mensa, to stop the compilation of the new voters’ register.
In a video sighted online, some men who claimed to be from National Security were seen moving into the house of the pastor and arresting him.
A search conducted on him by police personnel allegedly revealed substances suspected to be ‘wee’.
Subsequently, Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei was charged with ‘threat of death’, ‘offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace’ and ‘possession of narcotics.’
The court, presided over by Judge Emmanuel Essandoh, remanded him into police custody, after he pleaded not guilty to the charges, and adjourned the case to June 23.
The Ranking Member noted that he and some of his colleagues do not support all manner of statements that have the potential to undermine the country’s peace and security.
Mr Agalga said the country must abide by the tenets of the rule of law, and that the arresting officers acted unprofessionally by not allowing the suspect to peruse the arrest warrant, neither was it read to his hearing.
The suspect was not cautioned at all, but was just whisked away and paraded in a manner that was unacceptable.
Meanwhile, the constitution makes provision for how suspects should be handled. “In a nutshell, procedurally, we are saying that what happened to the apostle is reprehensible, condemnable and no amount of intimidation would silence the voices of Ghanaians.”
He also spoke about similar arrests and invitations that have been made by the police with regards to speeches.
He cited Mr Bernard Mornah and Major Boakye Gyan who were all invited by the police because of some utterances they made.
Mr Agalga said Ghana had adopted for herself a constitution which guarantees freedom of speech, and the President took an oath to protect and respect it.
Responding to the comments, the Chairman of the Defense and Interior Committee, Mr Seth Acheampong, noted that the arrest was done in a professional way and in accordance with the law.
He said nobody instructed National Security personnel to go and arrest the gentleman, but it was based on police intelligence gathering.
He cautioned people to stop speculating that the security agency planted the “weed” on the suspect, and allow those who matter to conduct their investigations and come out with the truth.
He also urged the public to speak to the fact and desist from attacking state institutions like National Security and the police.

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