The Vice Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, Peter Lanchene Toobu, has criticized the committee’s ranking member, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, for endangering national security by publicly disclosing sensitive information.
This follows the Assin South MP’s decision to initiate processes to summon officials from the National Security, Police CID, Narcotics Control Commission, and the National Intelligence Bureau for updates on investigations into a series of high-profile cocaine busts, including one involving drugs valued at $350 million.
Speaking to Starr News on the matter, Mr. Toobu described his colleague MP’s public approach as irresponsible and potentially harmful to national security.
“What has happened is so strange to me that it highlights a lack of standard operating procedures within the Defence and Interior Committee. There is no protocol that allows a committee member to engage with the media before consulting the committee or relevant ministers. The Defence and Interior Committee’s role in Parliament is primarily an oversight one, focusing on the security sector ministries.”
“The procedure is simple, and we’ve always emphasized this: it is the only committee that remains largely non-partisan because we deal with matters of national security. If a member has concerns and seeks answers, they summon the Minister before the committee. At the committee’s entrance, we remind everyone to set aside partisan interests and prioritize Ghana’s security. When it comes to national safety, we avoid making unnecessary public statements as long as we trust the Ministers are handling matters appropriately.”
“So, if you have direct access to Ministers and hold an oversight role as the Assin South MP, yet you failed to consult or question them before publicly disclosing everything you know, I believe President Mahama acted correctly in instructing the relevant agencies to address the situation,” he added.
Source: Ghana/StarrFM103.5FM/Benjamin Sackey
