NR Minister’s action comes under criticism

Page 34: Daily Graphic, April 21, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO security analysts have described the action of the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina, of sacking the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ofosu Mensah-Gyeabour, out of a Regional Security Council meeting, as wrong and an abuse of office.
Dr Kwesi Aning, who is the Head of the Conflict Prevention Management and Resolution Department of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, and Mr Emmanuel Sowatey, a small arms expert, said even if the Regional Minister had a problem with the Police Commander, walking him out was not the best.
They wondered whether Mr Nayina had earlier complained to the Interior Minister and the acting Inspector-General of Police about any problems he (Nayina) was having with DCOP Mensah-Gyeabour.
The security experts were speaking in reaction to the dismissal of the Northern Regional Police Commander from a Regional Security Council meeting in Tamale on April 14, 2009 and his subsequent withdrawal by the Interior Minister and the IGP.
DCOP Mensah-Gyeabour was walked out of the meeting when it was discovered that he took the wind out of the sail of the Regional Minister to brief the media about some decisions taken to extend a one-month moratorium given all residents of Tamale to surrender their weapons.
Dr Aning said while the removal of the police commander could have been politically correct, it did not hold the key to the long-standing tension in the region.
He said the conduct of the Regional Minister so far clearly demonstrated his lack of understanding of the complex issues of security and suggested that Mr Nanyina be dismissed for gross incompetence in dealing with security issues in the region.
According to him, keeping the Regional Minister in office would not only make the work of the President difficult, but was also likely to escalate the tensions and unsettle the situation in the region.
He expressed regret that civil authority had been so abused that a competent police officer should be withdrawn from post.
According to him, the minister had failed and had to be sacked.
Mr Sowatey explained that the position of the Regional Police Commander on the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) was mandated by the National Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, Act 526.
Mr Sowatey said Mr Ofosu-Gyeabour’s reputation and career had been dented by the action, which would make every minister or his subordinates not to trust him in whatever position.
He wondered whether prior to the incident, Mr Nayina had complained to the Interior Minister or the Inspector-General of Police about the conduct of Mr Ofosu-Gyeabour and what their reactions were.
Mr Sowatey wondered whether the minister’s anger about the Police Commander was because he (police boss) was the first to break the news about weapons-buy-back programme or REGSEC had not taken any firm decision on it.
He said if it was not time for the news to be made public then Mr Nayina had a genuine reason to be bitter but his approach of resolving the problem was wrong.