A Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has accused Dr. Kwesi Annin of pandering to political mischief with claims of threats on his life. He said the Head of Research at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre had no basis to say he was planning seeking asylum following threats on his life. Dr. Annin had said that some faceless individuals had issued death threats on him after he recommended the removal from office of the Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nanyina. He argued the Regional Minister had demonstrated lack of capacity to deal with the volatile security situation in the region. His comments had been precipitated by a fracas between the regional minister and the police Commander, DCOP Ofosu Mensah Gyeabour. The fracas led to the withdrawal of the police officer from the region by the Interior Minister, Cletus Avoka. Speaking to the issue, Dr. Annin had observed the regional minister has a hear-I-come attitude which was unnecessary for a person responsible for maintaining peace in a troubled spot such as the Northern Region. But his recommendation appeared to have angered some supporters of Mr. Nanyina who threatened him with death. Dr. Annin said although he had been threatened before, the latest one was serious enough for him to consider seeking asylum. But his statement also angered government and the Deputy Information Minister says Dr. Annin’s comments were meant to undermine government. “Government finds it unfortunate that a security expert, Dr. Kwesi Annin will in furtherance of his political bias and in an attempt to embarrass the Mills administration make the ridiculous claim of wanting to seek asylum. “Quite clearly the reasons for which he would be seeking the said asylum do not only sound funny, petty and ridiculous, but can only be the imagination of a man desirous of finding faults where there is none,” Okudzeto stated. He gave the assurance the government had no intention to push Dr. Annin into exile and advised him to report the assailants to the police. Reacting to Okudzeto’s comments, Dr. Annin said it was unfortunate to impute political motives to his statements. “Ablakwa knows and a lot of his colleagues in government know, that four months ago when they were in opposition, my work on crime, on guns, on drugs on transnational criminal groups infiltrating Ghana, and money laundering was actually used by them.” He said the Deputy Information Minister’s response was classic propaganda, ‘first destroy the victim and then come with a conciliatory gesture.” Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com