Former Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye had dispelled suggestions that he was provided with soldiers as part of his security during his tenure.
“I wish to categorically state that this is palpably false. I was never offered military protection, nor did I request for any,” a statement released by Professor Oquaye’s office on 17 January 2022 clarified.
Discussions on security for the Speaker popped up after the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) withdrew four men who were part of the security team of the current Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
According to Professor Oquaye, it has not been the norm for the leader of the legislature to have military protection.
He explained that he “had only three policemen” to move with him and provide security at all material times.
“This information can be easily verified by anyone who cares for the truth at the office of the Clerk-to-Parliament at any given time,” the release noted.
“I will pray that my name is left out of this media discourse on military protection and call upon all discerning Ghanaians to disregard any misleading reportage on same,” the statement concluded.
A letter dated 11 January and signed by the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Major General N. P. Andoh said four military men had been deployed as part of the security of the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin without proper procedure.
“It is humbly requested that the personnel are withdrawn with effect from 14 January 2022 while efforts are made to regularise their attachment,” the letter stated.
However, the decision by the military hierarchy has irked the Office of the Speaker of Parliament.
In response, the Office of the Speaker said in a release that “an attempt to strip the Speaker off security protection is untenable”.
The release said in a country that takes pride in its democratic institutions and processes, “the decision to reduce the number of security personnel assigned to the Speaker detracts from the political gains that Ghana has made, and is a bad precedent”.
The statement added: “The unknown reason for such a move is puzzling, but the real motive should be obvious to all objective observers of the political scene in Ghana”.
It continued:” If it is an attempt to gag the Speaker, this move will serve only to widen the gap between the legislature and the other arms of government. It also hints at the possibility of a plot to place the safety and security of the Speaker in harm’s way”.
Mr Bagbin’s office noted that “Ghanaian citizens yearned for an effective separation of powers as well as checks and balances, and voted to have a hung Parliament.”
The office believes Ghanaians are looking for a lot more consultation, consensus building and dialogue.
However, the latest “move contrasts with that and certainly is a bad precedent”.
“In decisions such as these, we must ensure that we are guided by the overall interest of this country and the sustenance of our democracy and its institutions”.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Security has said that the recall of the military men has been misrepresented.
According to the ministry, “personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces do not form part of the security detail for the Speaker and Parliament as Parliamentary security support is provided by the Ghana Police Service”.
It added that: “Any need for specific agency support is typically executed on a need-basis in accordance with stated protocols.”
“To reiterate, there has neither been a withdrawal of the security detail for the Speaker nor a reduction in the security strength of Parliament. The good people of Ghana are, therefore, entreated to disregard any unfounded speculation to this effect,” the statement stressed.