The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has admitted inviting the three South Africans in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for allegedly engaging in activities with national security implications.
Three retired South African police officers were picked up at Agona Duakwa in the Central Region for allegedly engaging in activities with national security implications.
The three — Major Ahmed Shaik Hazis (retd), 54; Warrant Officer Denver Dwayhe, 33, and Captain Mlungiseli Jokani, 45 — were picked up at the EL-Capitano Hotel where they had been based since arriving in the country at the beginning of this month.
They were said to be training some young men in various security drills, including unarmed combat, weapon handling, VIP protection techniques and rapid response manoeuvres.
The NPP, however, denied that the presence of the three men was linked to any subversive activity.
In a statement signed by the Director of Communications of the party, Nana Akomea, on Tuesday, the party said the three South Africans had been recruited to provide known security detail of the NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo, and and his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, with routine training in VIP protection.
The statement said two personal drivers of the candidates, as well as Nana Akufo-Addo’s official photographer, were part of the 15 people undergoing the training, which took place on the premises of a well-known licensed Ghanaian security company.
According to the NPP, the three South Africans arrived in the country on business visas, while the training of personnel in VIP protection was part of their business, pointing out, therefore, that no deception was intended.
The party however accused the security services of leaking news of the men’s arrest to the police.
“Is it not alarming, however, that a case which, according to the BNI, is still under investigation has been leaked to pro-government newspapers, obviously in the bid to help the NDC score cheap political points?
“It is our firm conviction that the security agencies, if they are to enjoy the confidence of the people, must always be seen to be non-partisan and professional in the discharge of their constitutional mandates,” it said.
The party also pointed out that training its own security detail would not have been necessary if the state had been responsible for protecting opposition leaders.
“That is exactly the case here. In an age when a radio programme host by name ‘Mugabe’, on Montie FM, a radio station belonging to the stable of the ruling party, has stated that Nana Akufo-Addo will die before June this year, we in the NPP will not take any chances whatsoever with the security of our leaders.
“That threat by the radio station host has, unsurprisingly, not been deemed by the authorities to be an act that could threaten our nation’s security,” it concluded.
