Seven former service commanders have been banned from all military and police installations and garrisons in the interest of National Security. A press Release signed by the National Security Coordinator Sam Amu names the commanders as Lt Gen. Arnold Quainoo former General Officer Commanding, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah former chief of Defence Staff, Real Admiral Owusu Ansah former Chief of Naval Staff, C.K. Dewornu former Inspector General of Police, F.Y. Asare, former Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, Bruce Konuah former Defence Advisor to Pakistan, and W.K. Aboah former Commissioner of Police. The release further reminded the public of an existing ban on the former president Jerry John Rawlings on assumption of office by the Kufuor administration. The ban comes in the wake of a recent meeting held by some of these former security capos at the former president’s residence where security concerns in the country were purported to have been discussed. Speaking to Joy news to explain the reason for the statement Deputy Information Minister Frank Agyakum explained the directive is a result of the Armed Forces Security Council meeting which assessed the security situation in the country. “The security council meet from time to time to assess the security situation and the directive may be as a result of an intelligence gathered.” Frank Agyakum says actions or inactions by some of these former security personnel may have contributed to the directive. Commenting on the recent meeting held by the ex- president, Frank Agyakum said maintaining the security in the country was the responsibility of the military, police and national security and for others to meet in the name of national security was worrying. He says the utterances by some of the former security capos after the said meeting were even worrying. “To ask service commanders to disobey unlawful command was to me scary,” he said. One of the affected personnel, Brigadier Nunoo Mensah told Joy news he is yet to be notified about the directive, but expressed profound shock at the news. He refuted allegations that the meeting held at the ex- president’s residence was to subvert the sitting government, adding it was only to discuss the general security situation in the country. He says he is never a threat to national security and would respond appropriately after seeing official notification. Listen to the interview with Frank Agyakum and Bri. Gen. Nunoo Mensah Author: Nathan Gadugah