Security Alert: Casual National Security staff angry

A group of about 100 aggrieved National Democratic Congress (NDC) foot-soldiers who claim to be casual workers of National Security are livid that the state security apparatus has failed to offer them permanent jobs six years after their recruitment.

The Finder could not independently verify this information because efforts to reach National Security for comment were unsuccessful.

According to the aggrieved personnel, they are deployed to perform duties at sensitive places such as the security detail of the President and his Vice, provide security at the Flagstaff House, Office of the First Lady, residence of ex-Presidents, Kotoka International Airport, Tema Harbour and the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

They alleged that they are paid between Ghc300 and Ghc400 at the end of the month and that they receive the money on tabletop.

The personnel said what is even more dangerous is that some of them who have been trained in various techniques, including handling of weapons, have abandoned the job, thus posing a security threat.

A copy of a petition by some of them, titled ‘Petition from the distressed travel intervention personnel who are without jobs,’ said they number about 100.

The petition was signed by 28 of the affected personnel, and 18 out of the number provided their phone numbers.

They explained that they are a group of NDC footsoldiers recruited by former National Security Adviser, Colonel Larry Gbevlo Lartey, in 2009 when President John Evans Mills took office.

Some of them who spoke to The Finder on condition of anonymity said their recruitment was based on their selfless dedication to the NDC in the run-up to the 2008 elections.

According to them, they were recruited from Okponglo in the premises of the Centre for Conflict Resolution, which was their operations base in the run-up to the 2008 elections.

They were subsequently sent to Asutuare for a joint training with personnel of Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

After successfully passing both written and practical tests, they were then moved to Castle Annex later in 2009 as National Security staff, where they performed their duties while awaiting their appointment letters.

However, in April 2011, the affected personnel said by some inconceivable events disguised as a necessary administrative reason, they were moved from Castle Annex to SCC yard in Abelemkpe.

Despite being moved to Abelemkpe, the personnel alleged that they continue to perform National Security duties assigned them.

However, the workers say all efforts to get the authorities to offer them appointment letters have proven futile for the past six years.

They appealed to President John Mahama to intervene and resolve the situation.

The aggrieved personnel made several damning allegations in their petition, which The Finder has decided not to publish for now.