General News of Wednesday, 3 December 2003

Source: gna

State, President's security will not be compromised - NPP

Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, a Founding Member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that the security of the state and the protection of the President would not be compromised under any circumstance.

He said any attempt by any group or individual to breach the relative peace the county was enjoying would be curtailed to create a congenial atmosphere for development to thrive.

In an interview with the GNA in Accra, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe noted that since 2001 there had been a series of security breaches intended to test the viability of the National Security Network.

He cited an instance where Mr Michael Soussudis, entered the President's private residence with a fully loaded pistol but was detected by the security personnel at the entrance.

He said apart from that, certain individuals with certain political agenda had attempted to discredit the ruling government and made various clandestine moves.

Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe also expressed concern about the recent behaviour of Alhaji Collins Dauda; Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), saying he used his discretion wrongly, when he entered the residence of President John Agyekum Kufuor

He noted that Alhaji Dauda should have known better, because it was inappropriate for him to go to the President's residence to settle family matters with a security guard adding," it is an unfortunate act and a clear breach of security.

"No government will rest on its oars and ignore attempts to summersault security. Even the NDC would not have taken kindly to these activities."

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe noted that it would have been reasonable for Alhaji Dauda to go to the private residence of the Police officer at a convenient time to dialogue with him.

"I strongly believe that the security services particularly the Police will go to the bottom of the case and ensure that the plain truth is laid bare and made known to the good people of this country."

He warned that the NPP was on high alert on security matters, adding, "we have on record that this government was given a lifeline of three months but now the party is triumphantly in the third year".

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe commended the security services for the professional manner in which they had executed their duties by ensuring peace and stability.

He claimed that the NDC had no! interest in the democratic process, but was engaging in covert plans to hit the government "below the belt" before the 2004 election.

"The NPP government is aware of these clandestine moves and will adopt measures to nip such moves in the bud," he said.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said he was optimistic that the NPP would win the 2004 elections, adding that the government had so far made prudent use of national resources for development and that the people of Ghana would ensure that the gains so far made were sustained. GNA