Speaker wants his military men back

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has repeated on record that he is not happy that a team of four military officers who were attached to his office as security were all withdrawn in January this year and replaced with police officers.

Speaker Bagbin has said, per the Constitution, he is the third highest office in the country therefore  he cannot understand why officers below him would be given military men as official security when he is denied same.

The Speaker told journalist in Parliament last Friday he was not enthused about the development especially when even before he became Speaker, he had military officers as security.

“When I was second deputy Speaker, the Office of the same President approved his staff sergeant to be my military attaché. For four good years, the staff sergeant was with me.

“Now, I’ve been elected as the Speaker, which is a higher position, and the same president says I’m not entitled to military attachment,” Bagbin posited.

He continued: “My military team, I’ve managed on my own; I’ve been managing on my own. This world is an interesting place… but the others are entitled and if you go to His Excellency’s office, you may count them [military officers] to about 200.

“The Vice President definitely has access to some. I am not entitled but the Chief Justice after me has four; ministers have their own and each Supreme Court judge has two but the Speaker is not entitled. This is Ghana’s unique democracy but don’t worry, I’m very secure.”

In January this year, the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, NP Andoh  officially wrote to Speaker Bagbin, and said  the four officers were attached ‘without proper procedure.’

The officers, WO1 Jafaru Bunwura, WOII Apugiba Awine David, S/Sgt Agbley Prosper and Sgt. Bonney Prince have been serving Bagbin’s office since he became Speaker in January 2021.

“It is humbly requested that the personnel are withdrawn with effect from 14 January 2022 while efforts are made to regularize their attachment,” the letter stated.

The development sparked some controversy, but Government , through the National Security Ministry, insisted  the Speaker was more than secure.

The Ministry, explained that  the four soldiers protecting the Speaker do not form part of the security detail of the Speaker of Parliament, and that the job was to be only undertaken by the police through the parliamentary security support.

“The Ministry of National Security would like to place on record that, contrary to the aforesaid misinterpretation, all requisite resources including logistics and personnel required for the full protection of the Speaker have been provided,” a statement from the ministry said.

The Ministry added that if there was a special need for any other security agency to offer security support that is done on a “need-basis.”