After operatives of National Security pulled down the infamous Legon toll booth erected by the authorities of the University of Ghana; many have raised concerns about the manner in which state security acted, with others questioning their mandate in relation to the ‘unlawful’ exercise.
Authorities of the University started collecting user charges to recoup a $2.3 million loan it says it contracted for infrastructural development on campus. The toll collection has incurred the displeasure of the public resulting in two students of the University taking the matter to court.
But even before UG have their day in court, the National Security Coordinator Col. (rtd) Larry Gbevlo Lartey on Tuesday dawn, February 18 2014, ordered the demolition of the yet-to-be completed toll booth at the entrance to the University at Okponglo.
According to Gbevlo Lartey, the structure had to be pulled down because it was a “public nuisance” and was wrongly cited.
However, speaking on Asempa FM, Lawyer Egbert Faibille sought to know why the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and its various security agencies always operate at night. He recalled that, the change of name from Jubilee House to Flagstaff House by the NDC government was completed at dawn just as the demolition of the Legon toll booth.
According to him, though the collection of toll by the Legon school authorities is in court, the national security capo has no clout to order its demolishing. Egbert Faibille, who is counsel for the two students suing the University for instituting road tolls on campus, described the action by the National Security operatives as arbitrary and an anathema to the rule of law.
“The solution to the toll booth saga is in court. The solution is not with national security going under cover of darkness to demolish the structure…why didn’t they do it during the day?…
“…when under President Mills (late), the government wanted to change the name from Jubilee House to Flagstaff House,…they did that operation at dawn; Why? Is this a government of night operations? This is the second time government is doing such a thing, I think it is wrong. If they are not afraid, why don’t they do things in broad day light?” he quizzed.