Finally: Prez. Mahama fires Gbevlo-Lartey

• Posted on April 30, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has removed his under-fire National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, from office.

“His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama has made changes at the National Security Council Secretariat,” Information and Media Relations Minister, Mahama Ayariga, announced in a terse statement released on Tuesday.

But, the former Army Officer will continue to hold the fort as National Security Chief until May 12, 2014.

“Mr. Yaw Donkor, BNI Director has been appointed Acting National Security Coordinator,” Tuesday’s official statement said.

The Minister’s statement named “Mr. Pious Awelinga as the Acting Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).”

“At a meeting with Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey, the President commended and thanked him for his loyalty and dedicated service to the State,” Mr. Ayariga’s statement. “He will be assigned to other duties after his well-deserved leave.”

Hours after the demolishing exercise, Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey went on radio to defend the removal of the toll booth, calling the uncompleted structure a “public nuisance”.

Although some Ghanaians supported his action, others, including officials of the University, condemned the demolishing exercise as “unlawful.”

On March 25, 2014, a group of concerned Ghanaians sent a signed petition to President John Mahama, asking him to remove Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey from office.

“As you are aware, around 1.30 a.m. on February 18, 2014, the National Security Coordinator along with some other armed men came to the University of Ghana campus and demolished a toll booth and a Security Post under construction,” the petition said.

“The National Security Coordinator subsequently admitted on various radio stations that he ordered the demolition and attempted to defend his actions by citing “traffic overflow” at the University entrance (Stadium). The demolition exercise took place without prior notice to the University management.”

The petition said, the demolition exercise “generated a considerable sense of insecurity both within and outside the University as people are uncertain what will happen next in cases of traffic overflow or any other situation that may be deemed to be a nuisance.

“We want to be assured that we will not have to live in fear of reprisals should the government, or national security apparatus consider any other matter to be a nuisance in future. We are of the view that discourse is a more preferable option to settling disputes than night-time attacks, most certainly in a matter involving traffic overflow.”

It added, “While we concede that the implementation of the tolling exercise may have been inconvenient to some motorists and members of the public, and that the University could have better managed both the public education and implementation of the exercise, we still believe that the demolition exercise was neither the legal, nor the wisest way to resolve any disagreements.”

President Mahama’s predecessor, the late John Mills appointed Lt Col. Gbevlo-Lartey as National Security Chief in January 2009.

Following President Mills’ death in July 2012, his deputy, John Mahama became President in line with Ghana’s constitution.

John Mahama contested Presidential elections in December 2012 and was elected Ghana’s fourth President under the nation’s fourth Republican Constitution.

Although President Mahama had previously made some changes to his team of security chiefs, Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey was never touched until Monday’s statement announced that he is to leave office on May 12, 2014.

By his removal, Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey becomes the second National Security Chief to have been sacked since January 2008.

On January 12, 2008, President John Agyekum Kufuor sacked Mr. Francis Poku as National Security Coordinator and Minister for National Security.

A government statement signed by Ambassador D.K Osei, Secretary to the President, extended the President’s deepest gratitude to Mr. Poku for his immense contribution to the stability and development of the country during his tenure as National Security Co-ordinator and Minister of National Security.

By: Richard Dela Sky