A Former Deputy Minister of Defence, Interior and Ranking Member on Defence and Interior Committee in Parliament, James Agalga, has questioned the conduct of the security agency in the arrest of a self styled Pastor, Apostle Kwabena Adjei.
James Agalga who speaks for Minority in Parliament on security matters blamed the situation on what he called methodology use of late to recruit persons into security forces hence “their unprofessional conducts”.
He was of the view that the “party hoodlums, vigilantes and faithfuls who have been recruited into the forces are the ones exhibiting these unprofessional behaviors”.
“The reason why officers who are supposed to be professionals in carrying out their duties even when it comes to effecting arrest can no longer do it in a professional manner is because of the recruitment of hoodlums and party vigilantes, faithfuls into our security agencies,” he added.
The MP in an interview with journalists in Parliament on the arrest of the Pastor who allegedly threatened the EC boss submitted that “some of these individuals acting unprofessionally don’t have the background or academic qualifications to be enrolled in our security services but due to their party affiliations are recruited into our security service”.
“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’s a very dangerous development.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee, Seth Acheampong, has rubbished the claimed made by his colleague on the Minority side.
According to him, the arrest was done professionally by properly uniformed personnel in accordance with the law.
He said, “the Police went there with court warrant to effect arrest and I’ll beg my colleagues in Minority to be fair to the government and the security agencies when commenting on this matter.”
Mr. Acheampong dismissed the selective arrest claims and stressed the points that, “others have gone through similar arrest and they were granted bail.
“Let us speak to the fact and desist from attacking state institutions like the National Security and Police.”
“It’s unfortunate to say that police are the people who planted a substance believed to be ‘wee’ on the accused person,” he added.
It will be recalled that, an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Emmanuel Essandoh has remanded a 56-year-old Apostle Kwabena Owusu Adjei into police custody for his alleged threats on the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa.
Apostle Adjei who was arraigned in court Tuesday 09/06/20 pleaded not guilty to three charges to wit; threats of death, offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace and possession of narcotics contrary to section 2 (1) of the PNDC Law 236/90. He was remanded to reappear on June 23.
Story filed by Edzorna Francis Mensah.
