Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has firmly denied accusations that members of the NDC caucus submitted names for recruitment into various security agencies, calling the allegations baseless and deceitful.
Dr. Forson refuted claims made by Interior Minister Henry Quartey, asserting that they are a tactic to distract from his revelations about the government’s covert and illegal recruitment into the security services ahead of the December elections.
According to Dr. Forson, the Ayawaso Central MP’s allegations are an attempt to divert attention from substantive issues.
“I find the recent statements by the Interior Minister, Henry Quartey, both alarming and baseless. His insinuation that members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have participated in improper recruitment practices without providing any evidence is a clear attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues,” Dr. Forson stated.
He challenged Quartey to name the NDC MPs who allegedly submitted names for recruitment and the names of those individuals.
“I challenge the Interior Minister to name the individuals he claims were brought forward by NDC MPs for recruitment. Let us move away from rhetoric and towards accountability. If the Minister cannot provide these names, then his statements must be seen for what they are: an attempt to distract from the substantive concerns we have raised,” Ato Forson added.
During a news conference on Monday, May 20, Dr. Forson alleged that all NPP parliamentary candidates were allocated 30 slots each to select NPP loyalists and supporters for positions within the security services, including the police and army.
He urged President Akufo-Addo and the government to halt what he described as undemocratic behaviour, emphasizing the need for transparency and fairness in recruitment processes within the security sector.
In response, however, the Interior Minister dismissed the Minority’s claims as baseless and regrettable.
“It is unfortunate that MPs and of course a leader, Minority Leader and a former deputy minister of Interior could spew this falsehood into the public. MPs currently are about 137…it cannot be possible, it is not and it cannot be possible. I am rather disappointed in this approach,” Mr. Quartey stated.
“Yes, we are recruiting but it is not a secret recruitment. We haven’t even started. The agencies are going to send the eligibility criteria. I am sure they will do that this week,” he added.
Henry Quartey further clarified the government’s position on recruitment practices. “We are saying that in the last couple of years, people have gone to buy forms. And for some reason, they could not gain admission into the security and intelligence agencies. So we thought it wise that we don’t have to advertise anymore for people to continuously pay monies because you have a certain number of people you need to recruit.”
The Minister reiterated his denial of the 30-slot allocation claim. “But I want to say on authority that giving 30 slots to MPs is false. It is not true. It has never happened before and I am surprised that they want to go on this tangent,” he stated.
