Army Chief explains swoop on sacked Security Minister’s house

Lt. Gen. J.B. Danquah, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces, has explained that the heavy presence of security personnel at the home of sacked National Security Minister, Francis Poku, on Wednesday, had nothing to do with placing Poku under house arrest.

Rather, he said Poku, who was relieved of his post on Saturday, had refused an invitation to proceed to the Australia House (Security facility) to formerly hand over to his successor. And not only that, but he had allegedly threatened that there would be gunfire if anybody dared to set foot in his house.

The CDS who was speaking to Kwame Sefa Kayi, host of Peace FM’s Kokrokoo morning show programme on Thursday, monitored by myjoyonline, he intimated that it was the alleged threat of gunfire that might have sent the police authorities to send in as many men as they did to contain the situation if it indeed arose.

Several police and military personnel on Wednesday morning stormed Mr. Poku’s Cantonments residence in what many termed an attempt to place him under house arrest.

The Minister of Information later explained that it was a debriefing exercise sanctioned by the National Security Council and chastised the media for exaggerating and dramatising it.

But the CDS, speaking in Twi with intermittent English interjections, explained that the nation had come far in its peace building journey and nothing should be done to undo the cherished peaceful situation.

He had specifically spoken on the programme to react to claims by seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt, Managing Editor of the Daily Insight newspaper, that events that unfolded in Mr. Poku’s house were so unfortunate that he the CDS (who was in Mr. Poku’s house) had made an adverse comment to the effect that what was happening to the sacked Minister was unfortunate after dedicated service to the nation.

Lt. Gen. J.B. Danquah chose not to comment on the issue of whether he told Kwesi Pratt any such thing but said he would leave that to the conscience of Kwesi and his God.

IGP Angry

Rather he urged all to be careful of statements and sentiments that could inflame passions and mar the peace of the country.

He said he was mindful of the fact that he was appointed to his current office by the President, and just as no explanation was offered him on his appointment, he could be relieved at anytime with no explanation whatsoever, explaining that that is the nature of the security job.

The Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, who had earlier spoken on the same programme, said he was so angry at the behaviour of Kwesi Pratt that he requested to be called later on to speak.

He described Pratt's behaviour as a betrayal, and said even if the CDS had spoken to him in confidence, it was improper for Kwesi to go on radio to tell the whole world.

He said such a behaviour could easily breed enmity between the best of frieds.