In the aftermath of the operation near the residence of former President Rawlings, the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) has written to the President John Kufuor alleging that former leader was under physical attack and siege.
The party disclaims the assertion and the reports in sections of the media that there was an attempt to assassinate the former president, saying it was a decoy by the security agencies.
A statement signed by the General Secretary of the party, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya said the assassination story has no factual basis whatsoever.
We reproduce the full letter to the President.
To His Excellency the President
The Castle - Osu
Accra.
Dear Sir,
EX-PRESIDENT RAWLINGS UNDER PHYSICAL ATTACK AND SIEGE
We bring to your attention the unacceptable invasion of the residence of Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings (former President of Ghana) and the siege that was mounted against him and members of his household over the weekend. The facts are briefly as follows.
On Friday, June 8, 2001 at 6.30 p.m. the residence and family of Flt. Lt. JJ Rawlings were subjected to an outrageous invasion and threat of unprovoked violence, by a contingent of 47 fully armed military and police personnel, sent by the government. For more than two hours the troops who came in five combat vehicles surrounded the former president house and adjacent buildings, waiting for orders from above to commence their armed action against President Rawlings and his family.
When the former president, more concerned with the safety of the members of his household rather than his own life, confronted the military/police team and asked their mission, he was informed that "they were given orders from above to come and wait." When the former president further enquired about the identity of the persons who had ordered their action, he was informed by the Officer-in-charge "that they did not know."
Apparently, the invasion was called off when the media that had been alerted by a member of the former president's household started broadcasting the event. However, the next day, Saturday 9th June 2001 at precisely 6.30 a.m., the BNI took over the invasion of the president's residence.
The BNI personnel illegally entered one of the three houses officially allocated to the ex-president. They broke down doors and used metal detectors to comb the premises. One of the caretakers of the house named Odinga was arrested and at the present time we believe that he is still in detention in BNI cells well over the statutory 48-hour period allowed under the Constitution.
We have noted that today's edition of the Daily Graphic dated Monday June 11, 2001 carries a front-page story entitled "Belize National grabbed", ostensibly as an attempt by the security agencies to create a decoy or red herring for the real purpose of the invasion.
The arrest and detention of Mr. Odinga, a friend of the former president who has been in Ghana for more than 10 years cannot be the real reason for the illegal and undemocratic invasion of the residence and assault on the rights of the former president, his family and other members of his household. We believe that the invasion forms part of the NPP government's campaign vilification aimed at the creation of public hatred for the former president in both Ghana and the international community.
In the light of the false impression that the security agencies sought to create with the planted publicity on the arrest and detention of "Odinga", we are compelled to bring to your attention the following facts relating to the invasion.
It is unthinkable that when a security operation of this kind was being carried out in the vicinity of the residence of the former president any one these two senior government officials would not be aware that such an action was going to take place.
To the extent that they were indeed unaware, then the pertinent but very disturbing conclusion that we must draw is that, not only is there an apparent breakdown in the command and control system regarding police/BNI security operations but also the NPP government does not appear to be concerned with the provision of effective security for ex-president Rawlings, as directed by our country's Constitution.
We also find unacceptable, the false story planted by the security agents, in the Ghanaian Chronicle of Monday 11 June 2001, under the headline: "Rawlings' House Under Security Cordon - Fear of assassins triggers rapid deployment."
This story gives the false and dishonest impression that there was an attempt to assassinate President Rawlings by "some undesirable people, including the arrested and detained Odinga" and for that reason, a rapid response team was sent to foil an assassination attempt against the ex-president.
This story appears to have no factual basis whatsoever and is just another attempt to create another diversion to obscure the reasons for the government's action.
It is unfortunate that we have to write to your Excellency the President in this manner about the events of last Friday and Saturday but you must admit that the action of the security agencies is completely unacceptable and inexcusable.
Your Excellency, in view of the highly explosive nature of the incident and the immense public interest it has so far generated, we hope we would be pardoned if we break protocol and circulate copies of this letter to the media, civil society and other entities that are concerned with the promotion of good governance of our country.
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