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Get rid of “Yellow Police” –
government told
Accra, May 2, Ghanadot/GNA – Some military personnel on
Friday called on the government to get rid of community
police under the National Youth Employment Programme as
their operations may pose security problems during the
December elections.
The military personnel, made up of senior and other ranks
from Ghana Army, Navy, Air Force, and Military Police
explained that the mandate of the community police personnel
popular known as “Yellow Police” was unconstitutional and
must be scraped immediately.
The Officers noted: “These uncoordinated masses are a
potential force for manipulation by unpatriotic politicians
to subvert the democratic process, especially on election
day.”
The Military Officers made these observations at a civic
education lecture organized by the National Commission for
Civic Education (NCCE) for the Ghana Army as part of
activities marking the 8th National Constitution Week
celebration.
The Military Officers also expressed concern about apparent
suspicion among the security agencies and called for closer
collaboration to erase these sentiments which have the
potential of undermining the country’s democratic gains.
Speaking at the lecture on the theme; “The Sovereign Will of
the People and Election 2008; The Role of Security
Agencies,” Mr. Laary Bimi NCCE Chairman challenged
politicians to genuinely demonstrate their concern for the
ordinary man.
He said: “it has become a political platitude for
politicians to trumpet it at the roof top of fighting for
the interests of the people, but in truth, the man or woman
is fighting for the betterment of his or her own condition.
“Months after winning political power, the once ordinary
person’s attitude changes, he or she moves into a different
apartment to suit his or her new status and places ‘beware
of dogs’ warning at the entrance to ward off the same people
who voted for him from coming to disturb him.”
Mr. Bimi therefore tasked the electorate to use the
political environment to seriously scrutinize all
politicians to ensure that, “we vote for selfless
personalities into positions of trust.
“This Election should not be just party, party, party but we
must challenge the politician to show how best the party or
the individual can champion the interest of the nation…we
are tired of self seeking politicians.”
He described Election 2008 as a test case for the nation as
almost all the leading four political parties have tasted
power before, unfortunately governance era of the Convention
People’s Party (CPP) and the People’s National Convention
(PNC) is fading into oblivion.
But the era of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the
main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is fresh
as these two political blocs have tasted power and stayed in
opposition before.
“They know and appreciate the goodies of governance as well
as the frustration of African opposition parties, they are
therefore desperate to either maintain or regain power,
through fair or foul means,” the NCCE Chairman stated.
He therefore tasked the military to maintain their
neutrality, respect the military command structures and
follow lawful orders to ensure that the nation goes through
election 2008 and come out united.
He cited electoral events in Togo, Nigeria, Kenya, and
Zimbabwe to expose the desperation of politicians to cling
on to power or fight for power.
The NCCE chairman also appealed to all democratic
stakeholders to maintain their neutrality and adhere to
their constitutionally mandated role as the international
community is keenly watching Ghana.
GNA
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