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Live from the Woods: Kan Dapaah’s silence fuels vandalism of NPP thugs

Minkan Dapaah National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 Source: Austin Brakopowers

By: Austin Brakopowers

We’re three months into the thug government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and there appears a grand scheme to put fear in the citizens.

A close scrutiny of developments in the country will reveal the stark reality that the government has been hijacked by hoodlums of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). They’re dictating the pace of the government.

These thugs are getting bold by the day because they’re backed by some senior members of government.

The government of the Invincible Forces and now Delta Forces is on rampage terrorising not only non-NPP members, but also their own people. Their modus operandi is fear.

The President lacks the courage and boldness to call these thugs to order because he rode on their shoulders into power.

They held the forte for him and stood by him. In exchange, they were promised the bones that fall from the government table. However, the promise made to them is not forthcoming as they had anticipated. They are getting angry at the government.

But I wonder why the whole country has to be terrorised because the President has been slow to fulfil a promise made to them?

I thought there would be calm after the President cosmetically called on the police to clamp down on activities of these thugs but nothing has changed.

Jubilant Delta Force after the Friday attack on their own We continue to record more attacks in the country and the police like President Akufo-Addo have proven unreliable to quell the thugs.

Last Friday, NPP-linked Delta Force attacked the newly appointed Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Agyei, as a way of protesting his appointment.

They manhandled him and could have harmed him if he had not been rescued by some police officers who were at the scene. The group wants Mr Agyei out because it said he didn’t play any role in the struggle to bring the NPP into power.

Hours later on Saturday, some members of the Invincible Forces went to the civil servants quarters at Roman Ridge in Accra to harass residents. They strode through the community armed and ready to strike down anyone who challenges them. They went there to drive former government officials who haven’t vacated their official residence.

Members of Invincible Forces attacking a police officer in front of the Flagstaff House

How long are Ghanaians going to live with these NPP thugs who are bent on disrupting the peace in the country? How long is Akufo-Addo going to allow his powers to be usurped by these groups?

One person whose reticence continues to stoke the attacks across the country is the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah. A distinguished gentleman when he chaired Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC), but it appears he’s losing it.

He has since the attacks started in January been quite and has failed to do his work as required. He receives his salary and sleeps comfortably while innocent Ghanaians continue to live in fear.

If the work of a National Security Minister entails creating havoc in the country, then Mr Kan Dapaah has succeeded. But if it does not then Akufo-Addo has to reconsider the Minister’s position. He’s in the wrong portfolio.

If there’s to be change in the country, the President has to hold his men accountable and sack them without fear or favour.

Columnist: Austin Brakopowers