Techiman crisis: Nunoo Mensah was indiscrete - Malik Baako

Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says the national security advisor is being indiscrete in his pronouncements on issues surrounding the crisis between Techimanhene and Tuobodomhene. He said that being the national security advisor, Brigadier Gen. Nunoo Mensah should have handled issues differently than he did. Peace in the Brong Ahafo region was threatened when some macho men abducted the chief of Tuobodom Nana Asare Baafuor II on the instructions of the Paramount Chief of Techiman traditional area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV. He was allegedly tortured and subsequently handed over to the police. The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei-Tutu – to whom the Tuobodom chief owes allegiance – called for the dismissal of the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander and the Regional Minister for exhibiting incompetence and allowing the issue to degenerate. He threatened to kidnap the Techimanhene if nothing is done about the situation. Following this, a delegation led by the National Security Advisor was sent to meet the Techiman chief as part of efforts to deescalate the tensions. The delegation also met with the Asantehene Tuesday evening on the subject. Speaking to the Joy News, National Security Advisor Brigadier-General Mensah Nunoo says the dereliction of duty at the local level could be blamed for the escalation of the feud between the Techiman chief and Tuobodom chief. He noted that his outfit and government were ignorant about the real security situation in the Bono Ahafo Region because they were misinformed by the security detail of the region. But Malik Baako, who was speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana Thursday, maintained that though the Brigadier-General may actually be telling the truth, he should not have gone public with the security lapses of his outfit. According to him, going public on the issue has given people the chance to interrogate the competence of the national security apparatus, thereby losing confidence in it. Malik Baako noted that Mr Nunoo Mensah could rather have raised the issue at a national security council meeting, warning that his action could demoralize those who work under him. Agreeing with Kweku Baako’s position, Communications Minister Haruna Iddrisu advised the national security advisor to learn from other security experts in the way they managed such critical issues as far as the public is concerned. By: Dorcas Efe Mensah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana