Government is set to deploy personal bodyguards to all Parliamentarians to ensure their protection.
The Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery made this disclosure to the House as part of measures to counter the growing cases of attacks on public officials in the country.https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/3gAnvo8Y-bOZsmy48.html
Speaking to journalists after the addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Dery explained that the move, which takes effect immediately, will facilitate the activities of members in the discharge of their services in the interest of the country.
Government admits that the recent spate of attacks against public officials has made it imperative for this deployment to be embarked on he said.Mfantseman shooting: Akufo-Addo charges IGP to apprehend killers of MP at all costhttps://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.416.2_en.html#goog_564327842Volume 90%
On October 9, Mfantseman MP, Ekow Quansah Hayford was shot dead on the Abeadze Dominase – Abeadze Duadzi – Mankessim Road while returning from a campaign trip.
He is believed to have been attacked at about by 6 armed highway robbers.
The development has triggered an uproar from members from the House as to the need to have guards attached to them.
Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu called for a special security detail to be appointed to MPs to ensure their safety as well as their families.
Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has also reiterated similar sentuiments on Joy FM.https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/ds06KbuQ-bOZsmy48.html
However, the Interior Minister explained that “thanks to the retooling of the security agencies supported by Parliament, instituted and led by the President, we have more security agencies and security personnel available.”
During Tuesday’s briefing, government concluded that 200 police officers will be deployed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to Parliamentary Protection Unit to protect individual MPs.
“So what we have proposed is that between now and the end of the year, we are going to provide additional 200 police personnel to be part of the Parliamentary Protection Unit making it, therefore, attain the status of a Divisional Police Command that will take care of Members of Parliament as bodyguards,” the Interior Minister explained.
As part of plans to heighten the safety of the legislators, the Interior Ministry is working to boost the effectiveness of the unit to 800 personnel in the near future.
“Subsequently, we should get about 800 police added so that each Member of Parliament will also have security at home, in the day and night,” he said.
