NPP Minority calls for re-assigning of Cletus Avoka.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament on Tuesday called on President J.E.A. Mills to remove and re-assign Mr. Cletus Avoka, Minister of the Interior and National Security, in the interest of the nation.

They said the Bawku crises would not be solved so long as Mr. Avoka remained the Interior Minister and in charge of National security and that conflict could have rippling effects on the entire nation. Mr. William Ofori Boafo, Member for Akropong and ranking Member for Interior and Defence, who stated these, was addressing a press conference in Accra.

“Honourable Avoka is a Kusasi Lawyer who has represented his ethnic group and clansmen in many communal disputes and conflicts. Most victims in the most recent violence are Mamprusis and supporters of a particular party”.

He said the Minister’s attachment to a particular faction of the Bawku conflict could render him partial and compel him to compromise his position if he remained as the Interior Minister.

He also accused the Interior Minister of ignoring allegations that Kusasis were having guerrilla training sessions instead of carrying out in-depth investigations into those allegations.

“It is more serious if it is acknowledged that the guerrilla training is taking place at the backyard of both honourable Cletus Avoka, the Minister of Interior who is also responsible for national security and honourable Ayariga, who is also the spokesperson for President Mills”. He added.

Mr. Boafo said it was unconstitutional under Article 210 section two of the 1992 constitution for any person or group of persons to raise an armed force in Ghana adding that the alleged guerrilla training was not only a threat to the people of Bawku and its environs, but was creating security panic in the entire nation.

The Ranking Member who produced some photographs to support his claim said they had identified Sulley Issifu, son of Alhaji Issifu Asaana, Bawku Central NDC Constituency Chairman as one of the trainees of the guerrilla group at Bawku.

The Minority further accused the NDC government of masterminding some attacks on some NPP sympathisers at Sankore in the Asunafo South District of the Brong Ahafo region and unlawful detention of others and appealed to the Ministry of Interior and the National security to thoroughly investigate those developments.

“We want to appeal to the Ministry of Interior and the National Security Secretariat to immediately disband the guerrilla trainers and trainees, confiscate the deadly arms and ammunitions, arrest and prosecute all other persons involved or connected with the said guerrilla activity in Bawku and its environs”. He concluded.

Source: GNA