Editorial: President, You Have Really Goofed

THE NATIONAL Democratic Congress, the main opposition party in the country, has called on the Government to ensure that all high-ranking Police Officers cited in the ongoing cocaine probe proceed on leave.

The Party’s General Secretary told the press recently that judging from the recent developments surrounding the case, it was prudent and urgent for the establishment of a bi-partisan Parliamentary Committee to investigate the matter to clear the negative image that the recent drug menace had brought to the country.

Now that President John Agyekum Kufuor has entered the fray, and accusing the NDC of being the organ or conduit through Mr. Rojo Mettle Nunoo, to have brought cocaine barons into the country, the authorities have no any other excuse but to step aside those Police Officers named in the whole cocaine saga and set up a Parliamentary Probe.

It is really very sad that the President has opened his mouth too wide on this issue, spewing libelous statements, which could have landed him in court if not because of the country’s constitution.

For on what premise is the President making these accusations against Rojo. Is the President now the Director of the Immigration Services, who can tell those who enters the country lawfully or unlawfully? Has he the evidence to prove that Rojo brought these Colombians into the country and was helping them to secure a site at the free zone enclaves at Tema?

It is very unfortunate that the President had let political euphoria to overtake him to make these unfortunate statements at that functions he spilled the beans. And with all respect, Mr. President, you have really goofed.

We on this paper cannot tell if you are often briefed properly by the National Bureau of Investigations (BNI) and other state security agencies otherwise, you would not have made this major mistake.

Now that you have vbeen challenged by Rojo to come out with the facts or resign, the ball is in your court and we are sure and believe that your lieutenants will be calling on you from now on to zip your mouth on this cocaine saga.

In fact, what the opposition NDC is asking for is nothing, which could be described as impossible. That is the setting up of a Parliamentary Probe and the interdiction or granting of annual leave to those Police Officers just like the case of Mr. Kofi Boakye, the Director General of Operations of the Ghana Police Service whose names have been linked to the alleged cocaine barons.

The Georgina Wood Committee is being watched not only by Ghanaians but the international community including international drug barons to see whether it could perform as being expected. And when Government, in the person of the President jumps into the fray to what people are saying that your speech was aim to divert the attention of the committee to that of the opposition NDC, then, there are more questions than answers.

President Kufuor, you are the father of the nation and we do not expect you to be giving this types of ‘boom’ speeches. With all respect, Sir, you have really goofed.