Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has defended government’s decision to provide personal security for Members of Parliament.
He says the decision is commensurate with constitutional provisions for the safety of members of all three arms of government.
Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile on Saturday, Kweku Baako Jnr supported Parliament's demand for security for its members with explanations that “there is no perfect legislature out there”.
“It is insufficient to canvas the idea that because of certain factual omissions relative to the Legislature, its members should be disqualified from some form of security protection,” he said.
His comments come after the deployment of 800 personal bodyguards to Members of Parliament as a proactive measure following the murder of the MP for Mfantseman, Ekow Quansah Hayford.
The move has since generated mixed reactions, with a large section of the public kicking against it.
The veteran journalist says although the public is right with its criticisms, he holds a firm belief that the perspective to which the idea is presented to the public sphere exerts influence on their sentiments.
“The idea of enhancing general national security for all citizens, within which MPs as a subset, are beneficiaries sounds fine and beautiful. But I don’t see it as being mutually exclusive to give the Legislature and its members some form of security protection.
“Conceptually, the question is posed wrongly. And once the question is posed wrongly, the issue cannot be addressed with the requisite resolution” he noted.
Mr. Baako's take is noted to be concurrent with that of Political Scientist, Dr. Osae-Kwapong, who was also speaking on the show.
The decision, according to Dr. Osae-Kwapong, is fair, given that members of the other two arms of government [the Judiciary and Executive] enjoy the benefit of personal security.
According to him, the dichotomy between reasons for the MPs demands and the concerns of the general public stems from the public’s perception that Parliamentarians are already well taken care of.
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