Gbevlo Lartey can’t investigate Boateng Gyan – Jake

Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey

The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, is doubtful about the National Security Coordinator, Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey’s, neutrality in investigating the National Organizer of the NDC since his office has been implicated in the leaked tape.

Col. Lartey on Thursday served notice to personally head the team that will question Yaw Boateng Gyan over comments on a leaked tap intended to recruit party members into the Special Forces of the Ghana Army.

Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey in an interview with Citi News said the Police would have done a better job.

He stated that “this is a straight forward police matter and not the National Security body that has already been implicated in the tape itself.”

According to Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey, the police are the first line of defense regarding our safety in this country and they should be empowered “to move against anybody, no matter how high or low in any political party.”

“The police refused to move in Chireponi, they refused to move in Agbogbloshie, they refused to move in Tamale, Atiwa and in Akwatia. All these places, the police have so far refused to move.”

He added: “The police are now telling us that they are setting up their intelligence capacity in advance of the general elections. Why would you want to set up an intelligence capacity when you don’t want to act on whatever it is that you find out when the thing is blatantly under your nose?” asked Mr. Obetsebi-Lamptey.

He further stated that Mr. Boateng-Gyan’s comments need no intelligence capacity to access the tape “because you can get it from the radio stations that have been playing it.”

The NPP national chairman admonished the Police Service to “actually start taking some serious actions and show the people of Ghana that it will move no matter whose office is involved.”

By: Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Prez Mahama must deal swiftly with Boateng Gyan – Dr. Bawumia

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

The Vice-Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged President John Dramani Mahama to walk his talk by bringing the NDC National Organizer to order after the latter’s plan to infiltrate the nation’s security services was exposed.

According to Dr. Bawumia, the comments by Yaw Boateng Gyan have implications on the nation’s security and ought to be treated with all the seriousness it deserves.

Speaking to Citi News from the Brong Ahafo Region where he is currently campaigning, Dr. Bawumia stated that the NDC organizer’s comments serve as a test case for President Mahama’s resolve to ensuring peace in the upcoming elections.

“Anything that threatens peace and stability in this country should be dealt with,” Nana Akufo-Addo’s running mate said.

“I think this is just not talk, but action and as we are heading for elections I will like to see a very swift reaction by the President to bring to book Yaw Boateng Gyan for this statement and the people that he was conniving with to destabilize the security of this country.”

He added: “The President has said that he is committed to peace and I will like to see a demonstration of the sincerity of that commitment in dealing with this particular issue of plans to infiltrate the security to disturb the security of this nation.”

Mr. Boateng Gyan has admitted being the one speaking on the leaked tape, but insists he has no intention to derail the peace of Ghana.

The National Security Coordinator, Col. Gbevlo Lartey, has served notice his outfit will invite the NDC kingpin for questioning.

Gbevlo Lartey: NDC Organiser to be investigated over leaked tape

Gbevlo Lartey

National Security Coordinator, Larry Gbevlo Lartey says he will invite persons connected with a leaked tape in which NDC National Organizer, Yaw Boateng Gyan is heard plotting to infiltrate the national security for electoral purposes.

Mr. Boateng Gyan intends to issue national security identity cards to NDC agents to enable them undertake operations on behalf of the ruling National Democratic Congress.

Mr Boateng Gyan who has admitted the voice on the leaked tape is his, cautioned some party agents he was addressing against misusing the IDs, saying such behavior in the past had been problematic for the party.

Colonel Gbevlo Lartey, reacting to the comments of the NDC National Organiser on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Thursday, stated emphatically that at no point in time had his office issued national security IDs to any individual affiliated with any political party.

He said Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan’s assertions were false because “no such thing has been done in the past” and that the national security office was an office of the state and not an office of any political party.

“We have not issued any card to any party people, and we have had no such discussions any party people,” he added.

“We have enough hands to do the work that we have to do. We don’t need the assistance of the parties to do our work.”

Asked whether Mr Boateng Gyan will be investigated, Colonel Lartey noted: “…Definitely, once this has come out we are going to call people and question them and interrogate them…”

Investigations into ‘Boateng Gyan Tape’ scandal must go beyond Gbevlo Lartey

Research Officer at CDD, Kojo Asante

Investigations into the explosive comments made by the National Organiser of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) must go beyond the government-appointed National Security Co-coordinator, Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey, governance experts have said.

They contend that given the fact that Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan’s revelations suggest that national security had been infiltrated in the past by the NDC, Ghanaians could not be assured of credible, transparent, investigations if they were left in the hands of the national Security Coordinator, who is himself an appointee of the government.

Mr Gbevlo Lartey has stated that all persons involved in the conversation captured by leaked tape will be investigated but denied national security has ever issued ID Cards to any unauthorized persons.

But human rights advocate, Prof. Ken Agyemang Attafuah and a research officer at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Mr. Kojo Asante appear unconvinced.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Thursday, Prof. Ken Attafuah said “I think it is imperative that state security agencies do their job and do them manifestly transparently…this is not one of those instances where some covet facilitation or some other very secretive, measured or approaches…to investigation is warranted.”

He said the police must investigate the comments made by Mr Boateng Gyan and make their report public.

Or better still, President John Mahama, he said, should set up a multi-partisan Commission with representatives from the security agencies to probe the development “so that it is clear on the face of it that nothing has been hidden and that we have a clear verdict and assurance.”

The legal luminary and Criminologist, said the Ghanaian people need “assurance that their vote will count; that the integrity of every single individual vote will not be compromised through acts of impropriety.”

He said the NDC Organiser’s comments were not conducive to democratic practice, neither do “they...conduce to the advancement of the best interest of the nation.”

Supporting Prof. Attafuah’s argument, Mr Kojo Asante of the CDD, said there was the need for a high level investigation because the “National Security Coordinator himself is a subject of this collusion that has been revealed from listening to the tapes.”

Regarding the issuing of these ID cards to the individuals in question, he said, “of course we don’t know whether it is true that the National Security Coordinator is the one that is issuing these cards to them, we need the National Security Council…which is chaired by the president to institute an investigation so that it can go above the National Security Coordinator.”

Stressing the seriousness of Mr Gyan’s claims, Mr Asante asked, “What happens in elections, if based on these revelations, there is suspicion that people who are identifying themselves as national security operators may actually be party people”?

“That kind of suspicion is dangerous for the security itself because it puts their operatives and their officers at risk, so this is not a small matter; it is going to raise unnecessary tension, it creates suspicion of the security services and because they are so important to refereeing the process of elections and enforcing the law…, it is important that this investigation is done quickly and if sanctions have to be applied, they are applied immediately,” he submitted.

PPP Statement: President Mahama & National Security must act now!

The PPP wishes to call on President John Dramani Mahama and the National Security organisation to act with dispatch on the Yaw Boateng Gyan tape to renew our confidence and hope for a peaceful and secure nation. We need a restoration of confidence in the security agencies and a trust that they will act professionally and impartially at all times. In this election year, it is important that state institutions act to ensure free and fair elections. The PPP is disturbed by the continuous blatant abuse of incumbency. This latest attempt to use state security apparatus to further the course of the NDC cannot be accepted by any well-meaning Ghanaian or organisation. The National Security Agencies do not exist to promote the agenda or support the election campaign of any political party, let alone the National Democratic Congress. While the president is calling on Ghanaians to maintain the peace and unity in the country, he refuses to act and remain silent when members of his party are engaged in all sorts of nefarious activities which threaten the peace and security of our country. Mr. Gyan's comments represent a serious indictment on the reputation and professionalism of the National Security. The suggestion that a party's official can arrange for National Security Identification cards to be issued to promote a party's activities is mind boggling. These are dangerous times indeed! We recall the violence that characterized the biometric registration exercise where NiiLamptey Vanderpuye's behavior that threatened the peace in the Odododiodoo was allowed to pass without a reprimand from the then Vice President Mahama. There was no action taken on the part of the police. Mr. Mahama, now President's deafening silence on these matters raises serious questions whether indeed he is committed to avoiding abuse of incumbency and ensuring peace and unity in this country. We call on the president and the national security to publicly condemn the conduct and comments from Yaw Boateng Gyan to assure all Ghanaians that the 2012 elections will be free, transparent, violence-free and fair. Individuals like Mr. Gyan should not be allowed to escape with impunity this time around. We wish to remind President Mahama about our open challenge to ensure transparency, accountability and Incorruptible Leadership. For the benefit of the President, we reproduce the challenge thrown by the PPP: - Introduce amendments to the 1992 Constitution that will make three critical changes for progress in Ghana: 1) prohibit Members of Parliament from being appointed as Minsters of State, 2) return the power to the people for all Ghanaians to directly elect their district, municipal and metropolitan chief executives without any interference from the President and 3) strengthen the office of District Attorney by separating it from the Ministry of Justice; - Make available to the public asset declarations, income tax returns, health records and sources of campaign funding before the December 7th elections; and - Conduct a campaign to prove competence and ability to offer solutions to the nation’s numerous problems. God Bless Our Homeland Ghana. God Save Us From Oppressors’ Rule! We are awake! Kofi Asamoah-Siaw National Secretary, PPP 6 September, 2012

Yaw Gyan’s statements worse than Kennedy Agyapong, arrest him – NDP

The acting General Secretary of the newly formed National Democratic Party (NDP) has piled further pressure on the embattled National Organiser of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) with a call on the security agencies to cause the arrest of Yaw Boateng Gyan for his ‘dangerous’ comments.

If the Police and other agencies fail to do so, it would be incumbent on President John Mahama to “order his arrest, set up a commission and demand answers,” Dr Mamboa Rockson has advocated.

Dr Rockson, who believes the NDC Organiser’s comments are ‘worse’ than those made by NPP MP for Assin North Kennedy Agyapong, made his demand when he spoke on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show hosted by Adakabre Frimpong Manso on Thursday September 6, 2012.

The NDP Secretary, who said he was “appalled and disheartened that such a person would make plans to destabilize the NDP”, was commenting on the contents of a 35 minute tape, suspected to have been recorded during a meeting at an unknown location.

Mr Boateng Gyan tells the audience about the party’s plans to draft them into a Special Force in the military whose members would later be given National Security identification cards to enable them to move freely and cause trouble in some parts of the country during the national elections.

There were also discussions on ways to link such violence and chaos to NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo’s call of “All die be die,” meant to encourage his party faithful but seen by others as a call to arms.

According to the voice, the National Security office would, at the eleventh hour, complain about lack of staff to properly police the December poll, and the NDC would then quickly push the Special Force members into the National Security for training so that they could work for the party under the guise of being National Security operatives.

The voice also charged them to find out the likely effects of the formation of the National Democratic Party (NDP), which had just received its provisional certificate from the Electoral Commission, on the chances of the NDC in the December 7 polls. The NDP was formed by disappointed or disgruntled former members of the NDC. Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings is believed to be behind the formation of the party.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show on Wednesday September 5, 2012 Mr Gyan admitted the voice was his, but insisted he did nothing wrong in seeking to find the likely effects of the formation of a new party on the NDC’s electoral chances. He also expressed doubt about the veracity of parts of the tape, suggesting it may have been doctored.

Dr Mamboa Rockson wondered about the disconnect between the public calls for peace being made by officials of the NDC including the National Organiser, and their private plans for the nation. He was particularly troubled by the effect Mr Gyan’s statements would have in the international community about Ghana’s military and their allegiance to the state.

“Why will he (Boateng Gyan) use illegal structures? Why will he go and recruit soldiers and use them as hit-men for his party? What he is telling the whole world is that there are hit-men among our military, and they have allegiances and they are ready to take out people. He is telling us there are now hit-men roaming the whole country ready to take out officials of NDP.

“What he has done is illegal, criminal and he must answer. Others have said less things, and they took them to the cleaners. This is more than what Kennedy Agyapong said, but see what happened to him.

“One of our members, Owusu Bempah made a simple comment, and he was picked up by the police. A member of the NDC, Kofi Adams, his voice is suspected to be on a tape and they have suspended him; they have not given him a fair hearing.

“People have been talking about peace, and if a credible officer of the NDC can say this, with the clear intention of crippling a new political party, obstructing democracy, then he must be made to face the law. Such comments to the entire NDP is offensive, and he must be arrested immediately or called to police headquarters and questioned, and if found culpable, must face the law. If the police refuse, the President should order his arrest, set up a commission and demand answers.”

Also commenting, suspended Deputy NDC General Secretary Kofi Adams said the development “does not augur well for the security of our polls, especially the aspect where they say the EC doesn’t have enough personnel to supervise poll so they will rush in.

“It is different if you hear about a national recruitment exercise in the military and the rest and you help, but not when you are training people and giving them different identity.

“I believe the party will hold an emergency meeting to respond, because there are aspects of the issue that affect the party. I believe the state institutions are also preparing to come out.

John Mahama, walk the talk- AFAG demands

The Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has challenged President John Dramani Mahama to “walk the talk by taking concrete steps in addressing the payment of fraudulent judgment debt to cronies of the NDC government if he wants to be taken serious with regards to the fight against corruption”.

President John Mahama in what he described as his policy statement to the nation, for the last lap of the NDC government said of judgment debt “The Minister for Justice/ Attorney General are charged with legally retrieving money that should not have been paid out”.

He continued “I am committed to running a corruption-free, transparent government. We must use the money under our control to better the lot of the ordinary Ghanaian. From the payments to undeserving individuals and institutions to unnecessary spending, we are dedicated to reform”.

With such admission on the part of the president, AFAG says it is of the considered opinion, that the Alfred Agbesi Woyome scandal and others present President John Mahama with a glorious opportunity to restore the sunken image of his government as far as the fight against corruption is concerned.

“As a country endowed with all the resources needed for our development, the past few years under the NDC government have witnessed such unprecedented looting of the hard earned wealth of the good people of this country at the expense of personal development for the majority of Ghanaians. Thus, it should be obvious to President John Mahama, that what the Ghanaian taxpayer needs now is action and not rhetoric,” AFAG said in a release on Thursday.

“As a first measure, AFAG has called on the president to unconditionally sack and (or) arrest for questioning, Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu and Messrs Martey Newman, Alex Segbefia, Benjamin Kumbour, EbowBarton Oduro and Kwabena Duffour (Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, AG, Deputy AG and Finance Minister respectively) for their actions and inactions in the payments of such fraudulent amounts. AFAG regards the continuous stay in office of the aforementioned public officers as a complete mockery on the Presidents stance on corruption.

Finally, what remains crucial to the Ghanaian taxpayer in all of these are practical steps on the part of leadership to ensure that the Ghanaian taxpayer is not denied justice. To this end, AFAG is calling on President Mahama to unconditionally reinstate Mr. Martin Amidu to give practical expression to the stance of the president,” the statement concluded.

Secret tape wahala: Boateng Gyan admits voice is his but…

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National Organiser of NDC, Yaw Boateng Gyan The National Organiser of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Boateng Gyan, has admitted that the voice on a secretly recorded tape of a meeting between suspected NDC loyalists and a top party functionary scheming about the 2012 elections is indeed his. He however insists the conversation had nothing to do with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and also contained no diabolical plans for the December poll. The 35 minute tape, suspected to have been recorded during a meeting at an unknown location, has Mr Boateng Gyan telling the audience about the party’s plans to draft them into a Special Force whose members would later be given National Security identification cards to enable them to move freely and cause trouble in some parts of the country during the national elections. He noted that plans were far advanced by the party to issue the National Security ID cards to them, but the NDC was being careful due to the manner in which some of them behaved in public some time ago when the party engaged their services. According to the voice, the National Security office would, at the eleventh hour, complain about lack of staff to properly police the December poll, and the NDC would then quickly push the Special Force members into the National Security for training so that they could work for the party under the guise of being National Security operatives. The voice also charged them to find out the likely effects of the formation of the National Democratic Party (NDP), which had just received its provisional certificate from the Electoral Commission, on the chances of the NDC in the December 7 polls. The NDP was formed by disappointed or disgruntled former members of the NDC. Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings is believed to be behind the formation of the party. However Mr Boateng Gyan, speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show on Wednesday September 5, 2012 insisted he did nothing wrong in seeking to find the likely effects of the formation of a new party on the NDC electoral chances. He also expressed doubt about the veracity of parts of the tape, suggesting it may have been doctored. “I am the National Organiser of a national party with two deputies, and we cannot be everywhere, so it is only natural that we have people who go out to gather information for us. Any party that does not have such a mechanism is not serious. “This was a conversation with such persons to find out those behind the formation of NDP and NDC persons who want to leave to the new party so we can approach them and talk to them to rescind their decision. Everybody knows the people who make up the NDP are all members of the NDC, and as a party we have to be concerned about people leaving our party. “The conversation was about NDP, which had just received provisional certificate, not NPP at all.” However, MP for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong, insisted that the conversation, which was initially about the effects of the formation of the NDP, eventually developed into “dangerous” plans to create violence and chaos and link it to NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo-Addo’s call of “All die be die,” meant to encourage his party faithful but seen as others as a call to arms. Mr Agyapong also claimed the young men at the meeting, aware that the training and assignment they were being sent to was dangerous, asked for provision to be made for their wives and children in the event of their death. “There were also references to me and my lawyer Ayikoi Otoo and plans to deal with us” he alleged. However, Mr Yaw Boateng Gyan maintained his innocence, although he acknowledged that the two names were mentioned at the meeting. Kennedy Agyapong advised Mr Boateng Gyan to be mindful what he says when he meets with his party people, “because you may fall out with them and you don’t know who may be recording your conversation.” He hinted that he also had a secretly recorded tape of the late President Mills engaged in a damning, heated argument with an NDC member. The tape, he said, was sent to him by someone very close to the late president