The Ministry of National Security says the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, still has security protection and that reports creating the impression that his security protection had been withdrawn are a “misinterpretation.”

The Ministry, in reaction to reports to the effect that soldiers protecting the Speaker have been withdrawn, said the personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces did not form part of the security detail of the Speaker of Parliament and that the service was only undertaken by the Police through the parliamentary security support.

According to the Ministry, soldiers do not form part of the security arrangement of the Speaker and Members of Parliament.

This explained that soldiers only come in a need-basis in accordance with stated state protocols.

A statement issued by the Ministry of National Security said: “contrary to the aforesaid misinterpretation of the withdrawal of the Speaker’s security all requisite resources, including logistics and personnel, required for the full protection of the Speaker have been provided.”

The Ministry added that if there was a special need for any other security agency to offer security support, that is done on a “need-basis.”

The statement said the Ministry had taken note of the circulation of leaked correspondence between the office of the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Speaker of Parliament on social media.

“Subsequently, the content of the correspondence has been misinterpreted as an attempt by the Executive arm of government to deprive the Speaker of the resources required for his full protection.

“The Ministry of National Security would like to place on record that, contrary to the aforesaid misinterpretation, all requisite resources, including logistics and personnel, required for the full protection of the Speaker have been provided.

The statement said for the first time since 2017, the security arrangements for both the Speaker and Members of Parliament had been significantly enhanced.

It said the personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces did not form part of the security detail for the Speaker and Parliament as Parliamentary security support was provided by the Ghana Police Service.

It said any need for specific agency support was typically executed on a need-basis in accordance with stated protocols.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) explained that the four soldiers who have been withdrawn from the Office of the Speaker of Parliament were attached to that particular office without proper procedure.

This resulted in the decision to withdraw them while efforts are made to regularise their attachment, a statement said.

By:Isaac Clottey