Albert Kan-Dapaah
THE NATIONAL Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has justified the action by the security operatives who forcibly removed DCOP (rtd) Ayensu Opare-Addo from office as the Ashanti Regional Security Liaison Officer.
Citing the need to prevent a catastrophic situation, Mr. Kan-Dapaah said the former Ashanti Regional Security Liaison Officer was a hindrance to the work of his successor, Colonel (rtd) Francis Duka, after his contract was terminated.
Answering questions on the Floor of Parliament, the National Security Minister indicated that several attempts to get DCOP (rtd) Opare-Addo to hand over to the new Ashanti Regional Security Liaison Officer appointed by the Ministry proved unsuccessful.
“DCOP Opare-Addo then declined numerous invitations from the National Security Coordinator to explain his refusal to quit the office for his successor,” he explained.
“Meanwhile, DCOP Opare-Addo’s continuous stay in office obstructed the work of the new Regional Security Liaison Officer,” he asserted.
He said it was against this backdrop that personnel from the Ministry of National Security were dispatched to the Ashanti Regional capital on May 11, 2021 to verify why DCOP Opare-Addo was refusing to hand over to his successor, and if it became necessary, to change the locks of the door to his office.
The Minister narrated that on arrival at the office in Kumasi, the personnel of the ministry duly introduced themselves to DCOP Opare-Addo, but they were met with an act of hostility from the former Regional Security Liaison Officer including a threat of shooting the operatives
“The personnel managed to restrain him and retrieve the side arm. To date, no official complaint has been made by DCOP Opare-Addo either to his immediate boss, national security coordinator, or to me as the sector minister, regarding the alleged assault on him,” he posited.
He continued that neither had the Minister of National Security received any correspondence from the police in relation to the allegations by DCOP Opare-Addo.
He assured the House of the Ministry’s willingness to investigate the allegations id official complaint is made by DCOP Opare-Addo
Giving a background to the incident, the Security Minister said the former police officer was given a two-year contract to serve as the Ashanti Regional Security Liaison Officer after the expiration of an initial two-year contract which began on January 8, 2018.
“His new appointment took effect from January 1, 2020 and was to expire on December 31, 2022. However, his appointment was terminated on February 19, 2021 by the National Security Coordinator,” he disclosed.
Mr. Kan-Dapaah said upon the termination of his contract, DCOP (rtd) Opare-Addo was paid his entitlements as per his appointment letter.
Subsequent to the termination of the appointment of DCOP (rtd) Opare-Addo, he said the Ministry appointed Colonel (rtd) Francis Duka as the new Ashanti Regional Security Liaison Officer.
“His appointment took effect 1st May 2021 but Mr. Speaker, DCOP Opare Addo refused to hand over to Col. Francis Duka.”
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House