IGP Snubs Rawlings

"We Won't Return Arms to Your Bodyguards"

An attempt by the Office of Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings to exploit the alleged armed robbery attempt on Patrick Kuntor to re-arm all ex-Presidential body guards, has been rebuffed.

Public Agenda has learned that in a letter dated October 25, 2001 the Office of the Ex-President asked the Inspector General of Police to license all the body guards to protect themselves and the ex-President in attacks such as the one visited on Kuntor, bodyguard of the ex-President.

The letter, signed by Dr Tony Aidoo, former Minister of Defence insisted the attack was politically motivated and invited the Police Capo to grant them the license to deal with the political menace.

In his reply dated October 31, Ernest Owusu-Poku told the former President thus: "I refer to your unnumbered letter dated 25:10:01 and comment as follows:

i: There is as yet no evidence to be adduced from the investigations made so far to suggest that the robbery attempt at the house of WO1 (rtd) Patrick Kuntor was a specially planned operation by 'armed personnel.' So far it appears to be only an armed robbery attempt, like any of the others the police have encountered.

ii. "We have no evidence of information of a consistent and systematic series of attacks on the lives and property of the former President and his body guards. If there is any such information or leads to that effect, it should be reported for investigation to be conducted.

iii Applications for licenses to possess weapons are made by individuals. The Application Forms can be obtained from the various Police districts and stations.

All applications for personal weapons for groups and societies are dealt with in accordance with the ECOWAS Moratorium, please".

Reached on his cellular phone to explain the stance of the police, Superintendent Angwubutoge Awuni, Head of the Police Public Relations Directorate said licenses of all political appointees and their bodyguards were revoked and their weapons collected when there was a change of government.

"It must be noted that the licenses to carry weapons were granted because of the need to protect them as functionaries of the government. Once they were no more in power, that privilege was no more applicable."

He said any former office holder who needed license to use a weapon would need to go through the normal procedure and apply to the police. "The decision to grant the permit depends on a number of factors. It is not automatic that everybody who applies would have his license approved," Supt Awuni explained.

Reached for his comment, Dr Tony Aidoo said he was minded not to talk to this reporter on the issue because he could not guarantee that what he would say would not be misreported.

He complained bitterly about this reporter's GTV Breakfast Show comment on a statement issued by the former Defence Minister on ex-President Jerry Rawlings's abortive trip to Botswana.

"It hurts," he said.

Calls to Presidential aide Victor Smith, could not go through. He would simply not pick his cellular phone.