Security sector roles distinct – Ambrose Dery

The Interior Minister nominee, Ambrose Dery has clarified that ministries and agencies considered as having security duties have distinct roles and would not duplicate each other's work.

Ambrose Dery and twelve others were nominated on Tuesday by President Akufo-Addo for various ministerial positions, pending parliamentary approval.

If approved, Albert Kan Dapaah will be the National Security Minister and Dominic Nitiwul, Defense.

Joshua Kyeremeh has also been named as the next National Security Coordinator.

However, some observers have complained that the Interior Ministry's role might cut across such ministries and agencies because they all have security duties to play but Ambrose Dery who is also the Member of Parliament for Nandom while speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday explained that “although they are related they have their own remit.”

“The ministries and agencies all have their respective roles to play. I think that the ministries are such that they are quite distinct also. The Ministry of Interior works through about ten agencies—Police, Prison, Ghana Fire Service, Immigration, NADMO, NACOB, Refugee Board among others. So these organizations or agencies are directly under the Interior Ministry.”

“The National Security as his Excellency rightly noted will deal with accountability to the people and therefore his appointing of a Minister for that sector is to be able to account to the Ghanaian people. Defense also deals with the army. So although they are related but they have their own remit and nevertheless we have to work together under the president to achieve the security goals that he has set,” he explained.

We'll ensure transparency
Mr. Dery further noted that if given the mandate, he will ensure transparency and accountability at his Ministry.

“The NPP is well endowed with several men and women who can handle all the positions so I am humbled by the fact that the president extended it to me. I am saying that by the grace I have some background experience for the position and I believe that it puts me in a position to be able to assist the president deliver on his promises he made to the Ghanaian people.”

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin