Former Head of the Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu, has cautioned African leaders concerning the treatment of the security personnel responsible for their safety.
Given the recent occurrences of coup d’états in various West African nations, Owusu stressed the significance of treating security personnel justly and with dignity.
During a panel discussion on Peace FM’s Kokroo on September 1, 2023, he argued that several of the recent coups in Africa could be categorized as “palace coups,” wherein senior military or special forces officers seize control of the government.
“Most of the coups that have happened in recent times are palace coups. Palace coups, in the sense that you will realize someone like a special forces commander who is protecting the president has taken power from him.
“The way politicians treat security men is very important. You are holding a pen, and someone else is holding a gun. Who is more dangerous? The person with the gun is protecting you, but you are not treating him fairly,” Owusu asserted.
According to him, approximately 77 security personnel at Jubilee House, including members of the military and police, quit because of perceived unfair treatment.
“Go to Jubilee House and see, the police, soldiers and everyone complaining, it got to a point where almost 77 security personnels decided to leave Jubilee House and go back to the unit.
“I am not sure that they are taking note that why would they struggle to get the seat of government and yet go back to where they came from… I know many of the people who have gone back. What type of treatment are you giving them?”
As a result, he expressed concern about this exodus, asking why people would seek positions in government then return to their previous occupations.
“What kind of treatment are you giving them? Ministers of state have been given police escorts, but they are treated like animals, as if they are not human beings,” he noted.