Dangerous power play at the Presidency

GBEVLO VRS BANI

…As Security Chief ignores queries

Less than seventy-two hours after commandeering the state security apparatus to demolish a toll booth barrier at the premier university, the University of Ghana, fresh intelligence picked by The Al-Hajj suggests that the beleaguered National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey is up in arms with the Chief of Staff, Mr. Prosper Bani, over redeployment of some personnel of the national security.

The National Security Coordinator is said to have treated a query served on him by the Chief of Staff on this matter with a pinch of salt calling his bluff to do his worst.

Although a dependable source close to the Flagstaff House has tried to down-play the matter when contacted, this paper’s investigations have revealed serious rift between the National Security Coordinator and the chief administrator at the seat of government, Mr Douglas Prosper Kwaku Bani.

Whiles one source believes the Chief of Staff was hell bent on ‘cutting’ down the ‘overgrown wings’ of the National Security Coordinator, another told The Al-Hajj the latter was only carrying out his constitutional responsibilities and has vowed to resist any attempt by anyone (including Mr Bani) to ride over him.

According to sources at the seat of government, the two senior government officials are ‘fighting’ over the treatment of some sensitive security operatives who were engaged some time back, to man certain strategic installations including the Tema harbor, Kotoka International Airport among others.

Reports are that, the security operatives, some of whom were engaged when the Mills administration took office in 2009 but were not ‘properly placed’ and, therefore, not earning the requisite remuneration and benefits, have been withdrawn by Mr. Gbevlo-Lartey without reference to the presidency.

And to add insult to injury, according to the source, the National Security Coordinator did not only unilaterally redeploy these young operatives, but also asked the unlucky ones to proceed on indefinite leave.

Sources at the seat of government said the presidency’s attention was drawn to the National Security Coordinator’s action, which is said to be causing consternation among the national security personnel including those stationed at the Flagstaff House. Consequently, the Chief of Staff wrote a letter to Mr Gbevlo-Lartey to explain his action and why the presidency was not informed.

This was said to have angered Mr. Gbevlo-Lartey, who vowed that over his dead body would he respond to Mr. Bani’s letter let alone explain his action.

The source said the National Security Coordinator is of the firm conviction that he does not need prior approval from the Chief of Staff before discharging his duties.

The Al-Hajj’s checks as at press time yesterday suggest that Mr Gbevlo-Lartey is living by his words not to respond to Mr Bani’s letter.

Mr Gbevlo-Lartey, who since the inception of the Mahama government, is yet to be officially informed of his continual function as the National Security Coordinator, is beating his chest as a ‘no nonsense’ military capo-cum-lawyer clothed with constitutional powers to do what he is doing. Mr Bani is also on his part banking his hopes on his status as political and administrative head of the President’s staff, ready to cut the National Security Coordinator to size.

Sources close to the Chief of Staff, however, denied any friction between the two government officials, saying they both have a good working relationship. Though the source could not confirm or deny any query letter from Mr Bani to Mr Gbevlo-Lartey, the source denied the existence of bad blood between the two.

Right from the inception of the Mahama government, not much has been seen of the National Security Coordinator who is said to be sitting on tenterhooks on the future of his job.

As of now, Gbevlo Lartey does not know whether he will continue his job or be assigned elsewhere.

However, what is public knowledge is that Mr Gbevlo-Larety’s Curriculum Vita has been with the Council of State for a yet-to-be announced assignment.

Even in the midst of the frustrating circumstances the National Security Coordinator finds himself, he has engaged in several actions that sometimes push government into a very uncomfortable position; the recent one being the demolishing of a private toll booth at the University of Ghana.

Even though Mr Gbevlo-Lartey acted within his remit by demolishing the toll booth, officials at the seat of government believe he should have involved the presidency before embarking on that controversial journey.

Officials at the presidency are said to be in a limbo whether to side with the demolishing and face the wrath of the university authorities or publicly reprimand the National Security Coordinator and save itself the hustle of having to trade words or be on a war path with the university authorities.