Incoming Interior Minister Demands Professionalism From Security Agencies

The incoming Interior Minister has demanded professionalism from the security agencies especially those who extort money from private sector actors.

Ambrose Dery says so far they are acting within the law in going about their businesses; the security agencies cannot put impediments in their way.

He made the statement during his vetting by Parliaments Appointment Committee for his nomination Saturday.

The former Minister for Information and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga narrated the concerns of some his constituents at Old Fadama and in Kumasi to the Minister-designate.

He said some of his constituents who import onion, yam, and livestock are always relaying their frustration regarding police extortion from the Northern region down south when they are conveying their goods.

According to Mr Ayariga, some of them told him harrowing stories of how some of their products rot away as well as some livestock dying because they refuse to pay the security agencies.

As a result of their failure to ‘settle’ these security agencies the trucks are detained which result in the loss of their investments.

“…they said I should ask the interior minister whether he would stop the practice police officers erecting barriers indiscriminately from Bawku up to Accra, stopping haulage trucks and extorting monies from them and extorting their vulnerability…” the MP said.

To this, Mr Dery assured that in consonance with the policies of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to create an enabling environment for the private sector actors, this and more would be addressed when he is confirmed by parliament.

“I would be doing the work purely by the rule of law and as long as they are doing the wrong thing, those acts would be stopped," he said.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com