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NPP ROARS…Sack Avoka NOW!

By Stephen Darko
The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) group in Parliament has questioned the neutrality and impartiality of the Interior Minister, Hon. Cletus Avoka, in the discharge of his Ministerial responsibilities in the ongoing Bawku conflict between the Kusasis and Mamprusi and has therefore, called for his immediate removal from office.
“We in the Minority call on President Mills to immediately re-assign Hon. Cletus Avoka from the Ministry of Interior and discharge him of his Ministerial responsibility of National Security,” bluntly stated Hon. William Ofori-Boafo, the ranking member for Interior.
The ranking member for Interior was reacting to recent media publication by an Accra tri-weekly The Ghanaian Observer that guerilla trainers have recruited some Kusasi youth from Bawku and its environs including, Sabongeri, Ginjanbe, Tesongo and Pusiga to engage in destabilization acts.
According to the report, the recruits were being trained extensively in combat, commando interventions and other ambush and sabotage tactics.
Consequently, the Minority has labeled Hon. Cletus Avoka as a non performing asset whose continue stay in the Interior Ministry could further polarize the security situation in Bawku.
Making specific reference to article 210 (2) of the 1992 constitution, Hon. Boafo argued that it was unconstitutional for any person or group of persons to raise an armed force in Ghana, except by or under the authority of an Act of Parliament.
“It is also equally unconstitutional for any person to raise Police Service in Ghana under article 200(2) of the 1992 constitution,” he added
According to the MP for Akropong, the recent conduct of Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Presidential spokesperson and Hon. Avoka in the ongoing Bawku feud leaves much to be desired; against the backdrop of the better Ghana agenda the NDC projected during the electioneering campaign last year.
“Mr. President, this is not the better Ghana, your laudable vision that you have persistently and continuously promised Ghanaians before and since your victory at the 2008 Presidential elections,” Hon. Boafo reiterated.
He added that President Mills and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) owe it an obligation to uphold and sustain the peace and stability they inherited from the immediate past Kufuor administration.
Flanked by the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Hon. Daramani- Sakande Adamu, Hon Boafo continued “It is very worrying and sad when it is known that the guerilla training is being carried out in an area where there is heavy security presence.”
It was in this direction that the Minority called on the Chief of Defence Staff to, as a matter of urgency,  advice the Defence Minister to review the composition of troops stationed at Bawku as peace keepers in respect of the ongoing conflict to restore calm in the area.

The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) group in Parliament has questioned the neutrality and impartiality of the Interior Minister, Hon. Cletus Avoka, in the discharge of his Ministerial responsibilities in the ongoing Bawku conflict between the Kusasis and Mamprusi and has therefore, called for his immediate removal from office.

Hon. William Ofori Boafo, Minority Member for Interior

Hon. William Ofori Boafo, Minority Member for Interior

“We in the Minority call on President Mills to immediately re-assign Hon. Cletus Avoka from the Ministry of Interior and discharge him of his Ministerial responsibility of National Security,” bluntly stated Hon. William Ofori-Boafo, the ranking member for Interior.

The ranking member for Interior was reacting to recent media publication by an Accra tri-weekly The Ghanaian Observer that guerilla trainers have recruited some Kusasi youth from Bawku and its environs including, Sabongeri, Ginjanbe, Tesongo and Pusiga to engage in destabilization acts.

According to the report, the recruits were being trained extensively in combat, commando interventions and other ambush and sabotage tactics.

Consequently, the Minority has labeled Hon. Cletus Avoka as a non performing asset whose continue stay in the Interior Ministry could further polarize the security situation in Bawku.

Making specific reference to article 210 (2) of the 1992 constitution, Hon. Boafo argued that it was unconstitutional for any person or group of persons to raise an armed force in Ghana, except by or under the authority of an Act of Parliament.

“It is also equally unconstitutional for any person to raise Police Service in Ghana under article 200(2) of the 1992 constitution,” he added

According to the MP for Akropong, the recent conduct of Hon. Mahama Ayariga, Presidential spokesperson and Hon. Avoka in the ongoing Bawku feud leaves much to be desired; against the backdrop of the better Ghana agenda the NDC projected during the electioneering campaign last year.

“Mr. President, this is not the better Ghana, your laudable vision that you have persistently and continuously promised Ghanaians before and since your victory at the 2008 Presidential elections,” Hon. Boafo reiterated.

He added that President Mills and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) owe it an obligation to uphold and sustain the peace and stability they inherited from the immediate past Kufuor administration.

Flanked by the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Hon. Daramani- Sakande Adamu, Hon Boafo continued “It is very worrying and sad when it is known that the guerilla training is being carried out in an area where there is heavy security presence.”

It was in this direction that the Minority called on the Chief of Defence Staff to, as a matter of urgency,  advice the Defence Minister to review the composition of troops stationed at Bawku as peace keepers in respect of the ongoing conflict to restore calm in the area.

By Stephen Darko

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