Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister for National Security
From empirical observations based on two recent incidents in relation to the despicable conduct exhibited by Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah, the Minister for National Security, I have begun to doubt his credibility, suitability and capability to helping His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo to deliver on his numerous campaign promises to Ghanaians.
Yes, silence is golden and patience is a virtue; however, for how long can we sit on the fence doing nothing when someone's actions if not checked, can unleash awful lot of discomforts to the majority of the people?
Let me pause to define the nouns used to cast doubt over the integrity of Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah as Minister for National Security. Credibility is the fact that someone can be believed or trusted. Suitability is being acceptable or right for someone or something and Capability is the ability to do something.
I am not here to accuse the President of error of judgment; nonetheless, what was the criterion or criteria used for selecting Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah for that position since a search on him following his recent cockups did not turn out that he is either a security expert or a former military or police personnel? In the advanced countries, such a position normally goes to someone who is an expert in the field by studies but most importantly, a former military or police officer of high ranking.
If he were knowledgeable about security matters, the nationally-condemned acts by the alleged NPP Vigilante Group, Delta Force, would not have assumed that catastrophic proportion to the disgrace of the party, the President and the nation. He could have nipped the Delta Forces agitation in the bud at the regional level.
I am here not to defend the Delta Force nor condemn them to the gallows. Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah failed to perform his duties satisfactorily. When the Delta Force went to pull that Regional Security Co-ordinator out of his office, they did not beat him or damage any property. Instead of Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah investigating the cause of their action and concerns which could properly be genuine or not, all he could do was to come out as a macho without the least diplomacy to threaten to ensure they are jailed. At worst, could he not have said, I shall make sure they are prosecuted rather than saying, imprisoned? Is he a judge to determine their fate or he had or has the means to manipulate the judges of the law courts to do his bidding?
If Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah meant any good for the party, he could have arranged or allowed the NPP to contact the judge to plead that it was a party issue that could be resolved internally hence the judge should please allow them to withdraw the case. If he had done this, it would not have escalated into its current embarrassingly heightened level where the Ghana Bar Association and the NDC have somehow been affected and got involved to discredit His Excellency the President and the party.
What is deeply worrying is to learn that Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah disassociated himself from the party; refused to contribute financially or in any other form that could brighten the chances of NPP winning Election 2017. However, as soon as the party won the election through the efforts of determined and concerned Ghanaians, of whom the Delta Force are said to have played a major and decisive role, he was among the first batch of people to go for a position in the government. What an irony!
At times when you sit back and analyse things critically, you will understand why some people are forced to hurl insults at the leaders of the NPP who could although be better managers and well-educated, they are the least politically savvy when it comes to strategizing to win elections and staying in power for long. It has always been monkey de work baboon de chop to them. The case of the Delta Force is a classical example.
Yes, all Ghanaians, especially all those who campaigned and/or voted for NPP and Nana Akufo Addo did a marvellous job to ensure the success of NPP and Nana Akufo Addo in Election 2017. However, as it is said, all animals are equal but some are more equal than others, the job done by say, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, Bernard Antwi Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) and those who helped negate the NDCs resolute determination to rig the election by adopting counter measures (names withheld), performed far much better than say, Rockson Adofo, on many fronts.
I, Rockson Adofo, did contribute my widows mite, wrote prolifically to canvass for NPP and especially, Nana Akufo Addo (the Joseph, Moses or David of our times), constantly on the phone to Ghana and elsewhere in the world persuading people to vote for a change and also, gave advice and directions. In all these, Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, Chairman Wontumi and the Delta Force did far greater job than me. They risked their lives and committed immense money into the campaign which in the end brought NPP to the sugar-candy mountain where Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa, a seeming opportunist is now enjoying and threatening the lives of the very people who have earned him his position.
He is biting the very hand that feeds him for after all he had not wanted NPP and Nana Addo to win the election hence his absolute failure to help in the first place. No wonder, as security- clueless as he is, he is doing that to the Delta Force members. It is out of pain and seeing themselves as taken for simpletons; used and dumped, that the embittered Delta Force members behaved the way they did.
Blame Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa for mishandling the situation in a very unprofessional way; going about it without any consideration for their feelings emanating from how the NPP have fooled them to earn him his position.
When some military and police personnel descended on Bodomase to assault the innocent mourners attending the late Kumawu Akyempemhene Nana Okyere Krapa II's funeral on Thursday, 16 February 2017, firing tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition into the crowd, destroying the kingly umbrellas of Kumawuhene Barima Tweneboa Kodua V and that of Kumawu Akwamuhene Nana Kwasi Bafo II, what was the reaction of Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa? He said he would imprison Barima Tweneboa Kodua V and his elders. He had Barima Tweneboa Kodua V arrested and had arranged with the police and the court to refuse him bail but straightaway be remanded for six months without bothering to know who was at fault or who started the whole criminal acts.
The evidence was clear that the police and the soldiers who were collusively sent there started the whole nonsense, probably at the instigation of this same Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa. Subsequently, I was obliged to inform the Amnesty International and the Office of the United Nations Human Rights Court in Geneva about how some innocent citizens are being denied their rights in Ghana, a democracy of course. What a disgrace!
Some people claiming to be friends of Hon. Albert Kan Dapaa and his family are of the opinion that he is a gentleman. Yes, he can be a gentleman but in my opinion, he is not politically savvy and hence a misfit in his current job. He is the one bringing the credibility of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo and NPP into disrepute more than the disgusting behaviour of the Delta Force.
The President had better shuffle him before he causes division in the party as some people have started taking positions and sides, a polarization which is a recipe for disaster.
I am sorry to say the NPP leaders have got such a bad attitude of ignoring the less educated individuals who sacrifice their time, energy and little money to help them win power. Once they win power, they turn their back on them. They ignore them completely. As I speak, some known NPP activists are now questioning the sense of their loyalty to the party all because of the ungratefulness and arrogance of most of the party gurus.
Anyway let me sign off here to come back another time.
Rockson Adofo