The Ministers in charge of National Security, Defense, and Interior are to urgently come and brief Parliament on the current security situation in Bawku in the Upper East region of Ghana following news of recent disturbances where some people are feared dead.
The First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu who was presiding over the House on Thursday, March 17, 2022, gave the directive for the three Ministers, namely: Albert Kan Dapaah; Dominic Nitiwul; and Ambrose Derry respectively, to come and apprise the House with the ongoing issues in that part of the country.
“In the circumstances, I direct that the Minister for National Security, with the assistance of the Minister for Defense and Interior do brief the House urgently on the security situation in Bawku. I so direct,” he ordered.
The issue was brought to the attention of the House by the Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak in a statement where he issued a clarion call on the heads of the security apparatus in the country to urgently come and brief Parliament on the security situation in Bawku.
According to him, information he is privy to indicates that if something was not done immediately to find a solution to the recurrent violent situation in the area, the issue might escalate. He said, even some of his colleague MPs who are from the area are not comfortable talking on the issue.
“In fact, even our colleagues from the enclave are scared to be heard talking about it because of the delicate nature of what is happening there and some brutalities that are being said to be happening there this morning in that enclave.
“I thought that Mr. Speaker, as a House we should be interested to get the Ministers of Interior; Defense; and National Security, even if it is a closed sitting where they can brief this House, for us to know exactly some of the things that are happening and what steps was being taken to manage the difficulties,” he said.
His position was supported by his opposite number, the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annor Dompreh, who also called for the Ministers to quickly brief the House on the situation.
He however cautioned the House to tread cautiously and recommended for a closed meeting in order not to escalate the situation.
The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah and the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Sayibu Suhuyini Alhassan, backed their leaders for the call while emphasizing the need for Parliament to ensure there is harmony in every part of the country including Bawku.
Source: parliamentnews360.com