The Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, has rubbished allegations by the minority that the government was recruiting New Patriotic Party thugs into our security agencies.
The Minister said although plans were underway to recruit new personnel for the security agencies, those who are being recruited are those who had previously applied for jobs in the security and intelligence agencies.
He said these categories of applications were not selected in the previous recruitment exercise.
The Minister indicated that the various security and intelligence agencies had yet to even come up with their eligibility criteria for the said recruitment.
He has therefore asked Ghanaians to ignore the allegation, describing it as an “incitement” of the public against the government.
He was responding to the allegations by the minority.
The caucus held a press conference on Monday, alleging that the government was recruiting party thugs into all the security agencies.
But the minister described the allegations as false.
He said it was a “palpable lie” from the Minority and that a multiplication of the said slots by the number of MPs in Parliament far exceeded the clearance that the Ministry of Finance had given to the Ministry of Interior for the said recruitment.
“We are not recruiting party people to do party work,” he said, adding that the Ministry would soon issue a statement on the said recruitment.
Background
The Minority in Parliament accused the government of illegally recruiting NPP foot soldiers for security agencies ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The Minority is also alleging that all parliamentary candidates of the party have been asked to submit the names of 30 persons each to be considered for security services.
The leader of the caucus, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who made the allegations at a press conference, warned that their side will resist any attempt by the government to recruit NPP thugs into our security agencies.
He served notice that such an action would be met with strong resistance from National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters.
“It is unacceptable that the government continues to put cheap partisan considerations ahead of the overall peace, security and stability of our country in the run-up to the 2024 elections,” he stated.
“We wish to remind President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Alhaji Bawumia that they will not have their way this time regardless of whatever manoeuvrings that they will roll out in the 2024 elections.
“We will resist these shenanigans with all our might. Our members, supporters and sympathisers will not just defend themselves against unlawful attacks by NPP thugs in uniforms, we shall hold these NPP hoodlums personally responsible for their unlawful violations of the laws of Ghana and the legitimate rights of our people.
“It is in the interest of the NPP footsoldiers to act lawfully or face the full consequences of their actions and the wrath of our supporters,” he stated.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
