Private Legal Practitioner, Samson Lardy Anyenini, has called for the disbandment of the Ministry of National Security.
According to the Lawyer, operatives of the Ministry have failed to deliver on their mandate as an intelligence-gathering unit of the state. Rather, they have constantly engaged in the abuse of their powers by mostly functioning as a police force.
He cited several instances of abuse by the National Security operatives and said the individuals involved in any form of abuse of their powers must be investigated and brought to book. “After we have done that and ensured that those who deserve punishment have been punished, then we disband it.”
Speaking on the Super Morning Show, Friday, the host of JoyNews’ Newsfile said, “their job is intelligence gathering, not to do police work. They have not been given police powers,”.
The call comes on the back of a recent raid, by National Security operatives, of the premises of Citi FM and the subsequent abuse of Caleb Kudah, a journalist with the media firm, for filming on their premises without permission, and stormed the Adabraka-based radio station with the intention to whisk away his colleague, Zoe Abu Baidoo.
According to them, Zoe Abu-Baidoo had received unauthorized information from her colleague, Caleb Kudah and refused to honour an invitation by the National Security.
Narrating his ordeal at the hands of the security operatives, Caleb Kudah said he was subjected to various forms of abuse.
Samson Lardy Anyenini condemned the disproportionate use of force in the arrest, insisting that it was unnecessary.
He also called for the establishment of an independent body that will be mandated to look into complaints of citizens who have been abused by operatives of the National Security Ministry, adding that Ghanaians will be shocked to hear some of the accounts of people who have faced the national security.
“We have had situations where they’ve gone into people’s homes and subjected them to very bad treatment, even refusing to identify themselves.
“Recently, we heard about how they ransacked the home of a foreign national in Kumasi and took away money, all these crimes have been left unpunished,” he added.
He further charged the Special Prosecutor nominee, Kissi Agyebeng, to ensure that the security operatives don’t misconduct themselves, once he assumes office.
