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Opinions of Thursday, 21 January 2010

Columnist: Daily Searchlight

National Security Dragged To CHRAJ!

Some former operatives of the National Security, whose appointments were illegally terminated by the National Security Coordinator, Larry Gbevlo Lartey, have dragged the National Security Council Secretariat to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for wrongful dismal.

A petition from the affected National Security Personnel is praying the Commission to intervene on their behalf in order to address the inhumane manner their appointments were terminated without any gratuity for the services rendered to the nation.

The petitioners are of the view that “the Security and Intelligence Act of 1996, Act 526 sees to the protection and permanency of our job.” According to the petitioners, they see themselves as permanent workers without being affiliated to any political party.

“Our loyalty to the State has been neutral without any political bias. Lt. Col AK Gbevlo Lartey, the National Security Co-ordinator assured us that he was not going to sack anybody but if need arose, there would be some postings so why now?” they queried.

According to them, this is a departure from the system that existed when the previous government took over, where no worker from the National Security Secretariat was sacked, based on perceived political affiliations.

“Sir, one thing that fascinates us is that, in our termination of appointment letters signed by the Deputy Co-ordinator in-charge of service, Mr. Dankwa, it was stated clearly that His Excellency the President and the National Security Co-ordinator have asked me to convey to you their appreciation for DEDICATED and LOYAL services to the Republic of Ghana, if so why the termination of appointment?” the petitioners asked.

The petitioners further wrote that “again the letter of termination of appointment was copied to the Castle Annex alone leaving the Auditor General Department, the Accountant General’s Department and the Public Service Secretariat. We feel some fishy deal in that, and want to know if something of that sort can be done,” they petitioned.

“Sir, we are taking this platform for the necessary intervention from your outfit within the shortest possible time. As we are law abiding citizens and believe in the rule of law, we know your outfit will take this matter up for the entire country and the world to know the democratic dispensation this government promised this country and the ‘Father For All’ slogan,” the petition added.