SA ex-cops saga ‘political attack’ on NPP - Casely Hayford

The ongoing case involving the arrest and prosecution of three South African ex-police officers is a political attack by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), financial analyst Sydney Casely-Hayford has suggested.

“I am of the opinion that this is purely a political gameplay by the ruling government because it is finding itself off-kilter and looking for an avenue to attack its political opponents,” he said.

Mr Casely-Hayford, who was a guest on Citi FM’s current affairs programme, The Big Issue, told host Umaru Sandah Amadu on Saturday 26 March that he found it difficult to believe that a professional body such as the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) would carry out such an action without the government’s manipulation.

The three men, Chris Hazis, 54, also known as Major Ahmed Shaik (rtd), WO/Denver Dwayhe Naidu (rtd), 39, and Captain Mlungiseleli Jokani (rtd), 45, were picked up at the El Capitano Hotel at Agona Duakwa in the Central region.

They were said to be training some young people in various security drills, including unarmed combat, weapon handling, VIP protection techniques, and rapid response manoeuvres. They have been charged with false declaration and unlawful training. They were put before court on Thursday March 24. They pleaded not guilty and were each granted a GHS20,000 bail with sureties. The BNI is still holding them despite the bail, a situation that has angered their lawyers.

The NPP also accused the BNI of conducting a raid at the offices of pro-NPP think tank Danquah Institute (DI) but high-level sources within the BNI denied undertaking any activity of the sort.

Commenting on the issue, Mr Casely-Hayford said he has every reason to believe that the BNI has no direct involvement in the whole case because the Bureau is a professional institution tasked to detect key flaws and security breaches in the country, adding that the actions of the trio does not put the security of the country in jeopardy.

“I can’t believe that the BNI will sink to this level in terms of professionalism. I am of the opinion that this has nothing to do with the BNI, but a political machination rather than a professional one, which was sanctioned by the BNI,” he asserted.