Gbevlo-Lartey Replies Statesman: 'We Protect Those Doing Lawful Business'

The National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. (rtd) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, has denied punching anybody or engaging in fisticuffs with a subordinate since he took over as National Security Coordinator for the National Democratic Congress in January 2009.

A release dated March 24, 2009 marked CONFIDENTIAL, which was fired from the National Security Council Secretariat, in reaction to a story carried by The Statesman titled NPP PLANNING COUP!, denied that the National Security Coordinator had "been engaged in any fisticuffs with any of his subordinates since he assumed office.'

Signed by Superintendent David Eklu, of the Public Information Department of the National Security Council Secretariat, the Secretariat also denied that Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, former Commander of the disbanded 64 Reserve Battalion, was personally at the Airport on the day Nana Akufo-Addo arrived.

Giving an account of events that transpired at the Airport on the day of Nana Akufo-Addo's return, the release said The Statesman "intelligence sources got it all wrong', saying "National Security"s concern about the crowd that gathered at the Airport to welcome Nana Akufo-Addo was basically to facilitate easy entry and exit for passengers arriving and leaving the Airport,' adding that the exercise was also carried out through coordination with the Police.

According to the release, which was copied to The Chairman, National Media Commission, it is the duty of National Security to focus on ensuring that 'the well-being and safety of everybody living in Ghana, particularly those who conduct themselves and their businesses according to law.'

The release described the story as full of misleading FACTS (Caps Ours), urging the paper not to hesitate to contact the Public Information Department at the National Security Council Secretariat for clarification on issues concerning National Security.

The release, however, fell short of refuting the report by the paper that '…the former law lecturer (Prez. Atta-Mills) was goaded into making his ill-advised declaration by a security report prepared by the National Security Coordinator Lt. Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (rtd), which all but accused the NPP of planning to overthrow the Mills administration'.

Find below the full response