We can’t give MPs police protection – Sowatey

A security expert, Mr Emmanuel Sowatey, has rejected suggestions of providing personal police protection for parliamentarians in the country.

“I think people are talking about giving each Member of Parliament (MP) police protection but we cannot do that,” he told Ekow Mensah-Shalders on the Executive Breakfast Show on Tuesday 9th February, 2016.

In the wake of the death of Abuakwa North MP Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu by unknown assailants at his residence at Shiashie, the Minority Leader in Parliament Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu has questioned why the state has failed to provide protection for legislators.

But Mr Sowatey held the view that the number of police officers in the country is inadequate and resources are also lacking so such an action cannot be implemented.

“When we talk about the number of personnel for the police it includes all those on support operations and includes those who go to the banks, those who protect ministers and other officials and escorts. The accommodation and resources are not there but something can be done,” he stated.

He further explained that not all MPs have the same level of risk to attacks and the risk also varies with several fluctuations depending on other variables.

According to him, if the intention is just to protect the MP, “are you going to keep the policeman for example in the MP’s car throughout or at home? If the person (attacker) wants to hurt the MP depending on the context he might go for the wife, child, brother or another loved one”.

He suggested that that a holistic assessment be conducted to devise measures to improve the security of all MPs with an immediate step of reviewing the security situation of all legislators.

Mr Sowatey also entreated the general public to be security conscious and “know the signs to pick and regularly review our security status and be vigilant”.