No Trouble At Castle Annex

Accra, Oct 14, Daily Guide -- Information available to ?Daily Guide? has described as false reports that the National Security Council has sacked or failed to pay on a regular basis, the salaries of 58 personnel working at the Blue Gate or Castle Security Annex.

The information also described as untrue the claim that the 58 affected people were members of staff of the Castle Security and are, therefore, on Castle Security payroll.

According to the Daily Guide, a source close to the National Security Council revealed that the 58 were amongst a batch of commandos trained for special duties by the NDC Government led by former President Rawlings.

The source said after their training the 58 were let loose with no fixed jobs and were sleeping on beaches near the Osu Castle and in uncompleted building in the area.

It added that the 58 persons referred to in the NDC mouth-piece ?The Lens? are ex-commandos who were given para-military training and dumped on the city of Accra by the NDC Government.

Realising the danger that the situation could pose to the public, the security authorities have, when possible, recommended them for casual jobs, the source affirmed.

It described the attempt by the pro-NDC newspaper ?The Lens? to create the impression that there is a ?Rapid Response Unit? recruited by the NPP Government as mischievous and erroneous.

?There is no unit known as the Rapid Response Unit,? it said.

The source said the reason why the NPP Government decided to engage para-military personnel even if for casual purposes was both humanitarian and on security grounds.