National Security Ministry justifies GH¢6m budget; slams Ayariga’s ‘unfortunate’ position

The Ministry of National Security has described as unfortunate the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga’s position on its budget allocation to address the Bawku conflict.

According to the Ministry, the statements made by the MP could reignite tensions, and endanger the lives of the personnel of state security and Intelligence agencies in the area.

Mr Mahama had alleged that the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, was given GH¢6,000,000 monthly by the Finance Ministry to manage the Bawku conflict.

Speaking on Woezor TV on Saturday, August 3, he said despite the huge sum of money allocated to the Ministry there was no evidence of work done. Subsequently, he dared Mr Kan-Dapaah to respond to his allegations.

The National Security Ministry in a statement released on August 6 noted that it was “unfortunate and mistaken for Hon. Ayariga, who, given his position as a Member of Parliament, ought to be better informed about the complexities and necessities of national security operations, to politicise same.”

“Such statements have the potential to disinform and misinform the citizens of Bawku, reignite tensions, and endanger the lives of the personnel of state security and Intelligence agencies involved in the operations, and should, therefore, not be encouraged by well-meaning Ghanaians.”

The Ministry said it was responsible for designing and coordinating security operations nationwide in collaboration with relevant security and intelligence agencies.

“In response to the sharp and troubling escalation of the inter-ethnic tensions in Bawku in 2021, which led to the tragic loss of hundreds of innocent lives, including women and children, displacement of people, and disruption of economic activities, the Ministry, as a matter of urgency, established a special operation in February 2023 to maintain peace in Bawku and its environs, as well as other areas in the North East Region affected and impacted by the conflict.”

“A budget allocation of GH¢6,000,000 per month was made to support these operations, which included a Special Task Force. These funds cover essential operational costs, such as fuel supplies for Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and other operational vehicles; the provision and delivery of food rations for personnel of the Task Force; special intelligence operations, and other civil-military activities aimed at building societal cohesion and stability in Bawku,” it further stated.

In line with the coordination and operational strategy for the management of the conflict, the Ministry noted that upon receipt of the funds, it distributes same to the participating security and intelligence agencies to support their logistics and personnel involved in the operations, with the core mandate of protecting the lives and livelihoods of all citizens in the area.

“We must emphasise further that these funds are part of the general operational budget for the Ministry. The Ministry is, however, compelled to allocate these amounts to maintain peace in Bawku, when they could have been invested, instead, in enhancing Ghana’s capability to build resilience against the dire security threats such as terrorism and violent extremism spreading across the West African region,” it added.