BNI IS OLD ENOUGH, LET THEM SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

The actions of BNI are always right according to the ruling government but wrong according to the opposition. It is always defended by the ruling government and criticized by the opposition. The government becomes its PROs while the opposition plays the role of the devil advocate. I find this behavior surprising and disgraceful. What is peculiar about this organization BNI which was Saint to NPP in 2001 but a demon to NDC and just after a change of government the same body is a remains a Saint but now for NDC and a demon to NPP? Recent happenings have brought out certain observations which to my own conviction shouldn't be swept under the carpet.

Observation One: 'The smile of a friendly lion is still scary' meaning if BNI is a viper then whoever is in power should get ready to be struck after leaving power, no matter how close you get to it. When it smiles to you now there is something you must not forget, it is still dangerous. And to avoid it dangerous and deadly venom, be wise and follow the rules.

Observation Two: 'To check corruption is to change government'. This body BNI is always activated when there is a change of government, like a sleeping giant it wakes up to shake the nation. Strangely enough, they don't effect arrest on serving government officials but ex-government officials. Strangely enough again, their pinocchio nose doesn't smell fresh ruling government corruption but only old and out-of-government corruption. I wonder if they were going to investigate E. T. Mensah had Mills won 2000 elections and I likewise wonder, if they were going to investigate Mpiani had Nana Addo won the 2008 elections. They only smell old and out-of-government corruption. This as a Ghanaian makes me reshape my thinking. If we want corruption to be checked we have to be always vote for the opposition either after every term or every two terms. If we don't do this BNI can't bite. Should that be the case?

Observation Three: BNI is a 'super-structural' victim, Karl Marx explains superstructure as a non-existent oppressive entity created to soothe the wounds of the oppressed and satisfy the needs of the oppressors. This is what is happening to this entity BNI. We only hear BNI when it comes to change of Governments, we only hear about them when it comes to a ruling government dealing with the opposition. Yet we are informed they are there to serve the citizens of this country, yes the powerful. Am waiting to hear Hon Mubarak or Hon Mumuni invited by the BNI not after change of government but now.

Observation Four: The government is their PRO, just last week what befell Mr. Mpiani revealed the public relations desk of the BNI. BNI is an independent entity like the Ghana Police service and as such is responsible for their actions. BNI surely is not an alter ego to the government and as such should be given the distance of an independent child. Immediately after the fracas, the two Deputy Information Ministers came out outlining the activities of BNI and defending their actions. I do accept that the task of that ministry is to inform us about certain happenings and government policies. I wonder if that was a government policy, obviously is not, but then it is an event. Why should they take such a hardcore defensive stance? If the BNI can investigate multifaceted issues and issue arrest, surely explaining their activities shouldn't be beyond their capabilities. I wonder why Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and James Agyenim Boateng were out in full gear to usurp the PRO role of the BNI.

Conclusion, if BNI is there to serve Ghanaians' needs, then it should be able to investigate the numerous robbery cases, investigate sitting public officials as well as ex-public officials. They should be able to explain their operations to the public and take questions from them. They should be able to speak for themselves, they are old enough.

Yirpaale Sondah
yirpaale.sondah@yahoo.com