Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, a former government spokesperson on governance and security, has issued a sharp critique of Ghana’s national security appointments, stating unequivocally that Richard Jakpa should not hold any position within the security architecture of a nation led by a serious leader who values national security.
Dr. Boakye-Danquah asserted that the national security apparatus must be manned by individuals of integrity and with distinguished careers, not those appointed primarily due to partisan political considerations. He stressed that a person who was dishonorably dismissed from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is unfit to be involved in the sensitive decision-making processes of the state’s national security.
He argued that Jakpa’s appointment represents an “egregious security lapse” by the government. “In any serious nation, Richard Jakpa would have no place in the national security architecture,” he stated, characterizing the decision as dangerous and a compromise to Ghana’s safety. “On security matters, President Mahama has earned a failing grade.”
Dr. Boakye-Danquah, a lecturer at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), elaborated on the vital functions of national security—including threat assessment, intelligence gathering, communications, economic protection, and safeguarding Ghana’s sovereignty—and argued that Jakpa fails to qualify under any of the thematic areas. “To have someone who was dishonourably removed [from the GAF] working at national security is a threat to Ghana and its security,” he stressed.
Addressing Mr. Jakpa’s recent petition against the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, Dr. Boakye-Danquah opined that Jakpa “lacks any form of credibility” to bring such a petition against the Justice Minister.
He further accused Jakpa of abusing his power while in office, specifically citing incidents of him “storming the residence of people” and “leading raids for special operations.” Dr. Boakye-Danquah concluded that when he learned of the appointment, he recognised it as a “deadly” and “very dangerous” development for the country’s security environment.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
