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General News of Monday, 31 October 2011

Source: The Informer

“We Won’t Countenance Lawlessness” -Gbevlo

Gbevlo Tells Ghanaians, Cautions Agogo Residents

The National Security Coordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (rtd), has cautioned trouble-makers around the country to desist from the acts, since the security agencies will not countenance any kind of lawlessness that threatens the peace of Ghana. He therefore, advised citizens to remain law-abiding, in the interest of peace and national harmony.
Against the milieu of media reports suggesting that the Youth of Agogo in the Asante Akim North District of the Ashanti Region are battle-ready to lock horns with the National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, and his outfit, for cautioning them not to engaged in any act of violence that will undermine the security of the nation. The Security Capo re-echoes his commitment to ensuring that the current peaceful atmosphere in the country is not sacrificed.
In an exclusive telephone conversation with The Informer over the weekend, Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey, under whose watch and hands the security of Ghana strives, says it will be preposterous for any single individual or group of persons to think that they can undercut the prevailing peaceful nature of this country to engage in violence and go scot-free.
According to him, with the avowed position of the President Mills administration’s commitment and determination to ensure that peace prevails among fellow countrymen of whom the National Security is an important player, his outfit will not approve of any unruly behaviour that could jeopardize the process.
“With the security of the nation entrusted fully into our hands (National Security), we will not countenance any act of lawlessness that threatens to plunge the country into a state of confusion”, Lt. Col. Gbevlo pointed out, saying anyone found to have flouted the law as enshrined in the constitution will not be spared.
Commenting on the present security development in the Agogo area, the National Security Coordinator believes that in as much as some foreigners defy the laws of the land, it does not take away the fact that there are still many genuine expatriates in the country, whose rights cannot be infringed upon just like any other ordinary Ghanaian would wish their rights are respected and protected.
According to him, although some Fulani herdsmen have persistently made the headlines for wrong reasons, their rights still ought to be respected. He argued that, granted we unleash drastic and uncompromising decision on these Fulani lawbreakers, what do we think will happen to Ghanaians who have sought refuge elsewhere.
“It is based on the that reason, that the National Security condemns the gruesome treatment being meted out to all Fulanis and other expatriates living in Ghana, saying ‘two wrongs do not make right’, therefore, if any foreigner goes against the laws of the land, the law must be allowed to justifiably work on the culprits”, he emphasized.
However, he stated that, it is most unfortunate on the part of section of the youth of Agogo to think that they can take the law into their own hands and have the effrontery to suggest that the National Security Council will succumb to their demand, as indicated in their press statement.
“We will deal ruthlessly with any recalcitrant lawless citizen, be it a Fulani or Ghanaian, who seeks to underestimate the authority of the National Security and the laws of the land to indulge in violence”, he cautioned.
It would be recalled that the people of Agogo and some Fulani herdsmen living in the Ashanti Akim North District of the Ashanti Region have been at each other’s throat to the extent that a ban has been placed on funeral rites by a group of angry youth of Agogo; and this is what has necessitated the deployment of security personnel to maintain peace and order, whiles the two parties work assiduously to resolve their differences.
An Intelligence report picked up, however, by The Informer, reveals that, the National Security Council will on Tuesday, deploy operatives to Agogo to ensure that the peaceful nature in the town is not disturbed.