Controversy Over Addo Kufuor’s Nomination
DR. KWAME ADDO Kufuor's nomination as head of the Interior Ministry by the President has been greeted with mixed reactions in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital.
Although Dr. Addo Kufuor is yet to be vetted to officially begin his ministerial duties, residents of the Garden City are expressing diverse opinions as to whether the country could tap the full potentials of Dr. Addo Kufuor, who they say is a security luminary.
Wherever you go in Kumasi, be it offices, restaurants, drinking spots or even taxis, people could be heard seriously arguing as to whether it was appropriate for Dr. Addo Kufuor to be appointed as Interior Minister and not as the National Security Coordinator rather.
Dr. Addo Kufuor chalked immense successes as Minister of Defence, a position he held for almost seven years before stepping down to vie for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential slot last year.
As some residents gave thumbs up to the President for bringing back the Medical Doctor to government, others contended that Dr. Addo Kufuor with his vast security expertise could perform better when appointed as the National Security Coordinator.
Among those who believe Dr. Addo Kufuor could perform better as National Security Coordinator was Mr. Kwabena Kokofu, the Bantama Constituency Chairman of the NPP.
He argued that the NPP government needed a security expert of the caliber of Dr. Addo Kufuor to ensure that President Kufuor finished his second term in office with the peace and unity of the country intact.
“Dr. Addo Kufuor was excellent as Minister of Defence before he stepped down and this is an ample proof that he is the right man to head the National Security office,” he argued in an interview with DAILY GUIDE.
Considering the fact that the upcoming general elections would be keenly contested, he stated that the country needed Dr. Addo Kufuor as National Security Coordinator to protect the peace of the country before, during and after the general elections.
Since Mr. Francis Poku, the former National Security Coordinator was relieved of his post by the President early this year, the highly sensitive security position had been left vacant.
The Bantama NPP Constituency Chairman therefore believes that the position of National Security Coordinator should not be allowed to be vacant for a long time, contending that crime was on the ascendancy in the country because there was no National Security Coordinator.
He noted further that the civil strife at Bawku and some isolated chieftaincy disputes across the country “were clear indications that the country's security was under threat and the NPP government needs a National Security Coordinator earnestly to help implement better schemes to protect our security during this election year.
“The position of National Security is highly sensitive, thus the President should not experiment and elect any person to occupy that position because it could be perilous.
“Indeed we need security experts like Dr. Addo Kufuor as National Security Chief within the last six months of the President Kufuor led-government, to ensure that we he hands over power to the next government in peace and unity.”
Mr. Kokofu noted that since Dr. Addo Kufuor was yet to be vetted to head the Ministry of the Interior, it was not late for the President to nominate him to head National Security as well.
“Dr. Addo Kufuor should be nominated by the President to head both the National Security and Interior Ministries, and this could go a long a way in curbing the rise in criminal activities in the country.”
Also sharing Mr. Kokofu's sentiments is Ofori Atta, aka 'Tomtom', an outspoken member of the NPP in the Ashanti Region who openly lamented over the ascendancy in crime in the country.
He sternly warned the NPP government never to be complacent with the security situation of the country, insisting that the country needs Dr. Addo Kufuor as National Security Coordinator to properly maintain peace and unity.
Speaking on various radio stations in the city, Tomtom argued that President Kufuor's massive achievements for the country would be in vain if he allowed any miscreant to craft trouble “in his last days as President. Therefore he should nominate Dr. Addo Kufuor as head of National Security.
“Dr. Addo Kufuor is tried and tested, thus he can perform superbly as head of both National Security and Ministry of Interior.”
From Fred J.A. Ibrahim Jnr., Kumasi