National Security operations have earned a disturbing aura of notoriety.
The total disregard for the rule of law by the department’s operatives remains but an indisputable feature. Many officials—from the Coordinator to others on the lower rungs of the structure—think the uncivil method of conducting themselves is normal. Little wonder the mostly ruling party activists recruited into its ranks continue to bask in their unruliness, considering it normal.
After all, the Coordinator himself is used to ordering demolitions without court orders as he did shamelessly at the University of Ghana.
As an appendage of the Office of the President, the indiscipline and the Robin Hood style of its operations leave much to be desired, especially since this can affect the image of the presidency too.
Unfortunately, the President hardly calls Gbevlo-Lartey to order even when his actions breach the law and negatively affect the image of his (President’s) office.
Yesterday, retired senior military officers, Col. EWK Nibo and Ahadzie were in the headlines in sections of the media for allegedly ordering the maltreatment of a TV Africa crew simply because they (officers) were not consulted before the filming of the Adjei Kojo demolition after a downpour.
TV Africa’s explanation about what their staffers suffered at the hands of the national security operatives was both plaintive and reflective about how the outfit has little or no respect for the media, and from empirical evidence, every Ghanaian but themselves and government appointees.
Interestingly, the two retired military officers mentioned in TV Africa’s complaint to the Chairman of the National Media Commission expressed no remorse for their damnable conduct when they were confronted by a representative of the network’s management.
Their expression that the treatment the editorial team suffered, ipsissima verba, “could have been worse,” was a mark of hubris which we find unusual by officials supposed to be working for the state.
The National Security apparatus, as it stands today, requires total overhaul. Its recruitment policy, for instance, gives it an unbridled room for engaging party activists whose rogue mentality and partisan consideration of their assignments are inconsistent with the terms of decency and civility.
We have observed, over the years, how National Security has become synonymous with the demolition of structures and the application of selective law enforcement.
There is the need for us, as a people, to engage in a conversation about how to change the face of the National Security apparatus. After all, the goal of all public institutions is to serve the interest of the nation.
Perhaps, we should also consider reversing the order of recruiting mostly party activists into the National Security apparatus lest the impression that it is an extension of the ruling political grouping gains a foothold.
So many years after independence and our retired Colonels are caught in such a damning web of recklessness and abuse is amazing.