By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, Jan.24, GNA – The Minister-designate of the Interior, Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, has given the assurance that he would work closely with the relevant stakeholders to ensure peace and tranquillity in the Bawku municipality of the Upper East Region.
“We will do everything humanly possible to bring back peace to Bawku and pockets of security threats around the country,” the nominee assured when he appeared before the Appointment Committee of Parliament on Friday for vetting.
On measures he would put in place to resolve the numerous chieftaincy litigations, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak said he would work closely with the National House of Chiefs to fast-track the codification of lines of succession of chiefs.
He stated that government would review the recruitment of security personnel undertaken by the previous government in the best interest of the country.
That, he said, would be done with security experts devoid of any partisanship and in the best interest of the nation.
The nominee said every government must put away excessive partisanship in recruiting people into the security services to ensure de-politicisation of the service.
Asked about issues regarding alleged delayed and favouritism in promotion within the security agencies, the nominee said: “It’s worth looking into promotion within the security agencies and make sure it is done on merit”.
Asked how he would deal with alleged bribery by some police officers, the Minister-designate said, he would ensure that police officers put on their body cameras whenever they’re on duty to record them so that if they extort money from motorists or engage in any brutalities, they could be captured.
“A time has come for us to install CCTV Cameras at all police stations, charge offices and cells that can be reviewed and this will help stop this police abuses,”he explained.
“I will champion a move for an Independent Standard Police Bureau including independent bodies to investigate complaints against the Police,” he said.
That, he said, would ensure transparency and accountability in investigating complaints lodged against police officers accused of involvement in abuses.
On measures he would put in place to curb circulation of small arms, the Minister-designate said, upon his approval, he would make sure government acquire gadgets that could help the Police detect guns in order to get rid of small arms in the system as part of the security strategy.
GNA