Kwesi Aning lauds Akufo-Addo’s creation of National Security Ministry

International security expert, Dr Emmanuel Kwesi Aning, has commended Ghana’s president-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for the creation of a Ministry responsible for the country’s intelligence agencies.

Dr Aning who is the Director of Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre, contends parliament can now hold the security and intelligence services accountable with the creation of such Ministry.

Nana Akufo-Addo on Wednesday named former Interior Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah as Minister-designate for National Security.

He also named “distinguished soldier” Brigadier General Emmanuel Okyere as the National Security Advisor.

He further announced the appointment of a former Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Joshua Kyeremeh, as the National Security Coordinator.

Commenting on the appointments, Dr Aning told Onua FM: “By appointing a substantive security minister, it is good for the rule of law because parliament can hold the security and intelligence services accountable.

“Furthermore, this fulfils the requirements under Act 526 of 1996,” he added He described the new structure as “Good move by the President, especially taking into consideration the fact that Dr. Sam Amoo under former President John Agyakum Kufuor, both late President John Atta Mills and out-going President John Dramani Mahama, never appointed a substantive Security Minister”.