Does majority wants Speaker Bagbin life in danger ? — Lawyer Alifo quizzes

Lawyer Eric Delanyo Alifo, a private legal practitioner says he wonders if the Majority in Parliament wants the Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin's life to be in danger.

His worry stems from the statement issued a couple of days ago by the Majority Caucus regarding the security of the Speaker.

A letter dated 11 January and signed by the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Major General N. P. Andoh withdrew the four military guards attached to the Office of the Speaker of Parliament.

The letter indicated that four military guards had been deployed as part of the security of the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin without proper procedure.

In a reaction to the assertion that the executive arm of government was involved in the recent withdrawal of four soldiers, the Majority side said the move by GAF was not politically motivated as speculated by the Minority Caucus.

In a statement issued Monday [January 17, 2021] the Majority side said Mr Alban Bagbin has benefited from the “largest number of security personnel for his protection that none of the previous Speakers had.”

But the NDC big wig in the Volta Region questions the posture of the Majority group in Parliament in one of his latest statements.

He stated, "In fact, if no ill-motive is behind their public statement, and no malice is intended, are they also not smart enough to envisage that a dangerous consequence may result from their unguarded and unfortunate public statement?"

Read his statement below:

Does the NPP Majority Group in Parliament Want the Speaker of Parliament to be Killed?

If not, why did they put out in the public domain, to all of us, including the criminals that may be in our midst, in out-and-out details, information on the Speaker's security arrangements including information on how many police officers are stationed at particular locations around him, including his home, office, in his escort, etc to ensure that he is effectively protected, and all his family and properties shall be safe?

This is Ghana, where 'contract killing' is rampant, and when they occur against high profile public officials, the police are never able to unravel the facts at all, or for many years. Our police service is just not able to be bold enough to investigate these incidents. They shall tell you they are investigating forever and they shall continue to ask for information from the general public as though they mean well.

When criminals want to plan their dastardly acts, they first do thorough intelligence gathering around their targets to facilitate their eventual operations. It would appear that the NPP Majority Group in Parliament has provided every security information about the Speaker of Parliament, which any criminally minded person may need to plan an effective attack on the Speaker.

In fact, if no ill-motive is behind their public statement, and no malice is intended, are they also not smart enough to envisage that a dangerous consequence may result from their unguarded and unfortunate public statement?

I can't think far.

Eric ƉELANYO Aliƒo