War At National Security Demands Urgent Probe …South Dayi MP

The Member of Parliament for South Dayi in the Volta Region, Hon. Rockson-Nelson Defeamekpor, has said that the violent removal of the Ashanti regional Coordinator of National Security, DCOP Opare-Addo, from office makes it imperative for an urgent investigation into the unprecedented affair.

In a statement, the MP who is also a lawyer points out that since the removal, there have been contradictory narrations of the sequence of events from both DCOP Opare-Addo who says he was brutalized, and from the government and its spokespeople who have alleged that he is a liar and a criminal.

Consequently, a probe is required to settle the truth of the matter. “The first, is the allegation that the operation was carried out by members of the Delta Forces, a vigilante group that is obviously operating in breach of ACT 999, needs to be investigated and punitive measures taken to deter others. The government cannot pass laws and watch unconcerned the perpetuation of illegalities because those involved are aligned to it,” the statement read.

 “The second, the allegation that DCOP Opare Addo was engaged in criminal activities as stated unequivocally by Major General Francis Adu Amanfo (rtd.) needs serious investigations. That a security coordinator who occupies office to superintend and deal with criminal conducts, is himself alleged to be involved in criminal activities, is a serious issue that cannot be swept under the carpet.”

 On May 11, 2021, DCOP Opare-Addo had alleged that a group of NPP vigilantes operating as National Security footmen, had invaded his office, handcuffed him and forced him out of office.

DCOP Opare-Addo had narrated the incident as an act of illegality. 

However, the Director of Communications for the ruling NPP, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, had justified the shabby treatment claiming that he was supposed to have gone on retirement but had stayed on, causing National Security Headquarters in Accra to send personnel down to Kumasi to forcibly remove him.

Later, the National Security Coordinator, Maj Gen (rtd.) Amanfo also claimed that not only had DCOP Opare Addo exhausted his term in office, but had also been removed from office because of his involvement in some criminal activities.

He had also accused DCOP Opare-Addo of lying about being handcuffed, claiming it was rather the National Security operatives who had been arrested and handcuffed by the Police in Kumasi.

But DCOP Ayensu insists that he was innocent and that the entire episode was because he had stopped the NPP vigilantes at the National Security to engage in illegal mining activities and defrauding of business entrepreneurs.