Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has raised concerns over allegations that some security personnel are using their positions to aid criminal activities, warning that such conduct could undermine Ghana’s security system and international cooperation.
The Minister said security personnel entrusted with sensitive responsibilities undergo background checks and training before being assigned to their roles, making allegations of insider involvement particularly worrying.
His comments come amid concerns following the seizure by French customs of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine from a container of plastic waste that arrived at the port of Dunkirk from Ghana
Speaking at a training programme for Regional Security Councils (REGSEC) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) on security and intelligence agencies, Mr Muntaka said security personnel who abuse their positions could compromise the country’s ability to fight organized crime.
“It’s sad that even the recent things that we are hearing. Conductors are sitting here and you hear it is insiders who are aiding and abetting criminals,” he said.
He explained that personnel given access to sensitive systems and information are carefully screened before being entrusted with such responsibilities.
“If I’m supposed to be in charge of keying fingers into your computer, I’ve been trained, my background checks, and they are here before you are taken to do certain role. Even your background will be checked and screened, trusted with that position,” he said.
Hon. Muntaka said the problem arises when individuals who have been entrusted with such responsibilities use their positions to facilitate criminal activities.
“Now you sit and when you are comfortable, you are trading with that position,” he said.
The Minister warned that insider involvement could also affect the willingness of Ghana’s international partners to share sensitive intelligence with local security agencies.He said foreign partners could become reluctant to provide information if they were uncertain about whether intelligence shared with Ghana would remain secure or be passed on to individuals involved in criminal activities.
“Now our counterparts abroad are even beginning to doubt to give us information because they trace it to an insider,” he said.He added that international partners could be left questioning whether sensitive information would be adequately protected after being shared with Ghanaian security agencies.
“They don’t know whether the insider, the minister is also part of it or the coordinator is part of it. Now you are asking them to give you information. Meanwhile, they’ve not finished their investigation,” Hon. Muntaka said.
He further disclosed that Ghana was facing challenges in its security cooperation with some international partners, including Australia and France, and said discussions were needed to strengthen collaboration.
“The situation that we have with the Australians is here. You see, they are dragging their feet. And we have one with France. The same, I’m meeting the French ambassador today,” he said.
The Minister also cautioned against attaching political affiliations to security investigations, saying allegations of wrongdoing should be handled professionally without regard to whether individuals involved belong to the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
According to him, politicising security matters could interfere with investigations and weaken efforts to hold suspected offenders accountable.
Source: Newspyramid.com
