Seven ‘gentlemen’ who are not known to be regular personnel of the National Security System were on Thursday given tags as National Security Personnel to begin operations in the Eastern Region, The Daily Searchlight can reveal.

The group, whose identity we are yet to classified, were driven to a National Security out post near the Foreign Service Annex, where they were issued with I.D cards to begin the operations. This happened at about 11.00a.m.

They arrived in a Mahindra pick-up, silver in colour, with number AW 2559-10 and were issued with the I.D. cards by the Head of Protection at National Security (name withheld for the time being), who has regularly been responsible for issuing this cards to these operatives.

Highly placed sources within the National Security set-up have informed the Daily Searchlight that so far there are over a thousand such ‘irregulars’ in the system, mostly at the Tema Harbour.

A substantial number of them are also former military officers were put out to pasture but have found their way in.

On Saturday National Security Coordinator Larry Gbevlo-Lartey however told the Daily Searchlight that the gentlemen were members of a task force put together by the Ministry of Roads and Highways for operations at some tollbooths in the Eastern region.

He stated that he would never allow people who are not qualified to be given National Security cards.

There has been substantial controversy about such operatives since the National Organizer of the ruling party Mr. Yaw Boateng Gyan was caught on tape saying that he would recruit similar irregulars and equipped them with National Security tags.

Said Mr. Yaw Boateng Gyan on the controversial tape, “You see, I have discussed it with, what’s the name, aha Kwasivi (Deputy National security Coordinator) that the problem is that those who were there earlier have abused some of this things. So they are reluctant to issue us some of these things.

We have told him that with the caliber of people that we’re working with, that we are not sure that anyone of you can misuse that identity that will be given to you. But they still want more guarantee, you get the point and sometimes, it is extremely difficult to get them to issue National Security identity to you people because of what some other people have done.

I think you agree with me. Some were issued with some of these things. There was a time that a man was brought there Aha, that man, is he from your area there? Where Majid, where Majid came and was begging us. Who sent the man to you? You see, so some of these things, immediately you raise the issue of identity, this is exactly what they say and they are also of the conviction that if you don't take care and the party takes it up to issue you with a party security, they would say that they are also forming a Para-Military Centre.

You see, so it's a very dicey issue but we are still on it. And I think that you will get … because elections is on the go come, anybody who goes out needs to be identified”.

When the contents of this tape became public Mr. Gbevlo-Lartey was quick to announce that he was initiating investigations, but very quickly and in cavalier fashion came to state that he found nothing worthy of investigation on the tape.