The Center for Democratic Development- Ghana (CDD-Ghana) has called for far-reaching reforms in the National Security apparatus and its operations on the back of the recent assault of Citi FM’s Caleb Kudah.
According to the Civil Society Organisation (CSO), the several allegations of assault made against the security agency and recently highlighted in the case of Mr Kudah, has been “longstanding, recurring and systemic” hence the need for the reforms.
While commending the National Security for publicly admitting that its operatives acted inappropriately in the encounter with Mr Kudah and going further to announce disciplinary actions against the indicted officers, CDD-Ghana however, expressed reservations against the Ministry’s attempt to minimize the misconduct of its operatives by describing it as merely “inappropriate.”
“This is regrettable, as it does not send the right signal or deterrence to officers of the National Security apparatus,” opined CDD-Ghana in a press statement issued on Monday, May 24, 2021.
CDD-Ghana in its press release also called for the training and internalisation of human rights rules in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the operatives of National Security as recommended in the Emile Short Commission White Paper, arguing that past incidents and that of the recent case of Mr Kudah indicate that the aforementioned recommendation has still not been implemented.
“This latest incident indeed highlights the importance of taking seriously the observations and recommendations of the Emile Short Commission. Among other things, the Short Commission recommended that, operatives of the National Security Council should be trained to internalize human rights rules including the provisions on the fundamental human rights of the Constitution within their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). It is clear from both the incidents at the National Security compound involving Mr. Kudah and on the CITI FM premises, including the attempt to arrest Ms Zoe Abu Baidoe of CITI FM, that the admonition and recommendation of the Short Commission, including in the area of recruitment and training, have not been heeded or implemented,” stated CDD-Ghana.
The CSO further called for a total change in the current architecture of the National Security apparatus in the lines of accountability, authority, command, and responsibility.
Read below details of the press release:
CDD-Ghana Press Statement – RE-National Security Actions in Caleb_Citi FM Case by Fuaad Dodoo on Scribd
