Changes In Security Posts Imminent

An Agenda To Deprive Northerners of Positions?
Credible reports gathered over the weekend points to an imminent shake-up within the Police and Prisons Service. There is a possibility that the changes at the Prisons Service will be announced by this weekend. Whilst that of the Police Service could see some significant shifts in the National and Greater Accra Regional Commands without any problems, that of the Prisons Service might not be the same.

The “Gye Nyame Concord” says members of the Northern Caucus within the ruling NPP have met over how to halt the planned announcement of the intended shake-up by the government. The planned changes are reported to have the blessing of the Ministry of Interior.

The Director General of the Prisons Service, Richard Kuuire is to be directed to proceed on leave. But instead of the job falling on the next in command, Deputy Director General in charge of Administration, B.T. Baba, sources say he would also proceed on leave prior to retirement together with his immediate boss.

Proposed to replace them are W.K. Asiedu and Madam Matilda Baffour Awuah, two top officers recently promoted over some colleagues.

Asiedu is earmarked for the top job, with Madam Awuah and Kofi Bansah serving as Deputy Directors. Another officer, H.O. Korney, insiders say, is also up for the Director of Prisons position.

While this may seem like an ordinary shake-up, some members of the Northern caucus within the party say otherwise. For them, the planned directives to be issued to Kuuire and Baba could not have been part of a routine exercise, but an agenda by some elements within the ruling party to deprive Northerners of their last security post in government, whilst retaining the posts for Akans.

And this is the song they intend to sing once the announcement is made, sources in the Caucus told the paper after a meeting witnessed by its reporter. They have therefore vowed to take the issue up.

Efforts made by the paper to reach the government on the issue proved futile.