Flagstaff House not safe for President

The French Embassy, TV3, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and other buildings in that enclave pose serious security threats to the president as he prepares to occupy the multimillion-dollar presidential mansion somewhere next month, according to security pundits.

A source close to the presidency told The New Ghanaian Voice that plans are underway to relocate the French Embassy, AfriKiko restaurant, the GBC and TV3 as they are anticipated to pose heavy security threats to the presidency.

The almost US$90 million presidential palace, which was constructed under the chairmanship of the then Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidential Affairs, Kwadwo Mpiani, apparently has huge structural and security defects.

Last year, however, President Mahama set up a special committee to advise government on this issue. The committee, among other things, reviewed the security, logistics and equipment-related issues required to make the Flagstaff House suitable for the president.

The National Security Co-ordinator, Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, later stressed that “the supposed palace does not meet the safety requirements for the occupation of a President of Ghana”.

A source told The New Ghanaian Voice that the position and design of the presidential palace makes it easy for the president to be targeted by an assassin.

The position of the French Embassy, TV3, GBC and the accommodation by the guards as well as the senior non-commissioned officers of the military and the police service, which covers the open flanks, are also good hide outs for anyone with evil intentions hence the need for safety precautions.

Other notable areas are the Egyptian Embassy, Christ The King Church, the sprawling Kanda estates, GBC club house and the Ghana Water Company.