National Security is compromised - NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has asked Ghanaians to form groups to protect the ballot on Friday December 7 saying the National Security Coordinator, Mr. Gbevlo Lartey cannot be trusted.

According to the NPP National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, the National Security Coordinator has so far compromised his stance on security issues related to the conduct of peaceful elections.

Mr. Lamptey alleged that National Security Coordinator, Mr. Gbevlo Lartey imported police uniforms and distributed to fake police recruits to cause trouble in NPP strongholds on the elections day.

He addressed the media at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Wednesday where he said: “Yesterday we were all exposed to the disquieting information that police uniforms were been imported into the country confined not to the police but to a private company.”

He charged, “the method of supply of police equipment additionally is that the police and the ministry of interior have been responsible for the purchasing including where necessary importation, but in the matter of these uniforms it was seen that Col. Gbevlo Lartey stopped the Police procurement process and insisted that his outfit will most unusually handle the importation of uniforms for the Ghana Police Service; the uniforms he has ordered have been delivered in a piece mill fashion so that it is impossible to take a full inventory of the order, in the meantime, these uniforms are in the system.”

Mr. Lamptey also called on President John Mahama to restrain the National Security Coordinator from putting the nation’s security at risk.

“Just a week ago at the Kumasi declaration for peace, Nana Akufo-Addo spoke of the need of action to support words and good intention, we now call on president Mahama to act and restrain his national security Coordinator, Colonel Gbevlo Lartey from putting our security and safety at risk.”

The NPP National Chairman reminded Col. Gbevlo Lartey of his responsibility saying, “It is Colonel Gbevlo Lartey’s job to protect Ghana and Ghanaians not to expose us to any danger.”

Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey further said the National Security Coordinator had politicized the national security outfit.

“In his politicization of his job he has caused spectacular failures embarrassing Ghana and continued to put us at more risk of danger and discomfort.”

Talking about the narcotics menace and its repercussions on Ghana’s image internationally, Mr. Lamptey said: “You will also be aware that just a few weeks ago Colonel Gbevlo Lartey and his outfit allowed Ghana to be used as the source of what proved to be one of history’s biggest attempts to smuggle narcotics into Great Britain".

The NPP National Chairman also accused Col. Gbevlo Lartey of failing to prevent Ghana from being cited as a source of destabilization of Ghana’s neighbour, Ivory Coast.

Attempts to reach Mr. Gbevlo Lartey for any comments have proved futile.