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Tag: Adam Bonaa

  • Akufo-Addo’s conduct does not warrant ex-president status – Adam Bonaa

    Akufo-Addo’s conduct does not warrant ex-president status – Adam Bonaa

    Security analyst Dr. Adam Bonaa has proposed that President Akufo-Addo’s name should be excluded from the list of Ghana’s former presidents when he leaves office on January 7, 2025.

    During a discussion on TV3’s Ghana Decides 2024 programme, which was followed by Ghanaweb, Dr. Bonaa explained that the President’s behavior while in office does not deserve recognition among the country’s past leaders.

    “If it is possible, let us expunge Nana Addo’s name from the list of ex-presidents if he becomes one. Listen, what Nana Addo has done to this country… I am old enough to have witnessed many of the coups that took place in this country, but we never experienced some of the things that happened under Nana Addo. And yet, we had takeovers here and there.

    “This means we have come far, Nana was instructing chiefs to get up and greet him, doing all manner of things, and you ask yourself, ‘Where did we go wrong?’ What has taken place… a lot of my friends in the NPP are so disappointed. It is because of Nana Addo’s bad, irresponsible, reckless, and looting government that we find ourselves where we are,” he added.

    President Akufo-Addo assumed the presidency in 2017 after winning the 2016 election in the first round, having previously run in the 2008 and 2012 elections.

    He will step down on January 7, 2025, just before John Mahama is inaugurated as the new president.

  • Bawku conflict almost spread to Accra, other areas – Adam Bonaa

    Bawku conflict almost spread to Accra, other areas – Adam Bonaa

    A security expert, Dr. Adam Bonaa, has warned that the ongoing Bawku conflict poses a significant risk to the safety of all Ghanaians if the violence is not curbed.

    In an interview with GhanaWeb TV’s George Ayisi, Dr. Bonaa emphasized the potential dangers the decades-old chieftaincy dispute could have on the country’s security, especially with the 2024 general elections approaching.

    He pointed out that violent incidents tied to the Bawku conflict have already spread to other parts of the country, far from the conflict zone, raising concerns about the national impact.

    “You know, this thing spread all the way to Ashaiman, Kasoa, Madina, and other places… the very Bawku conflict, because you have Kusaasis who are in Accra, you have Kusaasis who are in Kumasi, you have Kusaasis who are in Wa, who are in Kejetia, who are in Mamprobi, they are everywhere. You have Mamprusis who are also in these areas as well, and they live together.

    “Nobody is too far away. If you heard about ‘kill the cockroaches,’ the Rwandan genocide, ‘Kill the cockroaches.’ Houthis and the Tutsis. So my point is that what is happening is that some persons are sleeping. So if you thought that you are in Accra, they will fight and bring it to Accra, and it will affect all of us. I said the thing nearly entered Accra; some people were injured in Ashaiman and other places,” Dr. Bonaa said.

    Dr. Bonaa also highlighted the grave implications of the Bawku conflict, warning that it could escalate into ethnic cleansing if not effectively addressed.

    “Ethnic cleansing, that is what we risk. You know the Bawku conflict: you have the Kusaasis on one side, Mamprusis on one side, and depending on which tribe you are, you are seen to be associated with either the Mamprusis or the Kusaasis. To the extent that even if you are our nomadic friends, even if you are a Fulani, you are perceived to belong to one side, so sometimes you are shot and killed,” he said.

    The recent spike in violence in Bawku has led to the deaths of around 25 people and left many others injured.

    Dr. Bonaa attributed the ongoing conflict to a failure in leadership and called on the government to take immediate action to address and resolve the situation.

  • “Stop running to the media and face me” – COP Tiwaa tells Adam Bonaa

    “Stop running to the media and face me” – COP Tiwaa tells Adam Bonaa

    COP Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), has issued a bold challenge to security analyst Adam Bonaa, urging him to address their issues directly rather than through the media.

    This follows allegations made by Bonaa that Addo-Danquah had threatened his family.

    In an interview with Starr FM, COP Addo-Danquah admitted to calling Bonaa’s wife but clarified that her intention was not to issue threats.

    Instead, she wanted Mrs. Bonaa to advise her husband to cease making false statements about her.

    “I called the wife to plead to her conscience as a fellow woman because she wouldn’t be happy if the least opportunity that Bonaa gets he will lie about me,” Addo-Danquah explained.

    She further elaborated on her motive, emphasizing that her advice was meant to protect Mrs. Bonaa from becoming an “innocent victim” in the ongoing dispute.

    “I told her that all that he (Dr. Bonaa) has said doesn’t mean anything to me, but if he doesn’t stop, I will pray. If she doesn’t call her husband to order, I will go on my knees and I will pray to my God and my God will listen, and she the wife might become an innocent victim,” she stated.

    Dr. Bonaa had earlier accused COP Addo-Danquah of threatening his family, stating on radio, “She actually called my wife to threaten my wife, children, and me. I found that very appalling for someone of her calibre and so I am going to make a formal complaint to the CID for her to be questioned.”

    These allegations are rooted in Dr. Bonaa’s petition to Parliament regarding the closure of investigations into the Cecilia Dapaah case, which had been referred by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

    In response, COP Addo-Danquah expressed her readiness to appear before Parliament to clarify the mandate and operations of EOCO.

    “I am ever prepared and ready to face Parliament because it will be an opportunity to educate people like Bonaa on the mandate of EOCO. Stop running to the media and face me,” she challenged.

  • I called Bonaa’s wife to advise him against spewing lies about me – EOCO Boss

    I called Bonaa’s wife to advise him against spewing lies about me – EOCO Boss

    The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, has responded to allegations made by security analyst Adam Bonaa regarding a phone call she made to his wife.

    COP Addo-Danquah clarified that the call was made to advise Mrs. Bonaa to caution her husband against making false statements about her, rather than to issue any threats.

    In an interview with Starr FM, COP Addo-Danquah explained that her intention was to prevent Mrs. Bonaa from becoming an “innocent victim” in the ongoing dispute between herself and Dr. Bonaa.

    “I called the wife to plead to her conscience as a fellow woman because she wouldn’t be happy if the least opportunity that Bonaa gets he will lie about me,” she stated.

    “I told her that all that he (Dr. Bonaa) has said doesn’t mean anything to me, but if he doesn’t stop I will pray. If she doesn’t call her husband (Dr. Bonaa) to order, I will go on my knees and I will pray to my God and my God will listen and she the wife might become an innocent victim. Because, when I pray with an open heart, and I tell God that this man is hurting me because he is lying about me, my God that I serve will listen to me,” COP Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah elaborated.

    This explanation comes in response to Dr. Bonaa’s claims made on radio, where he accused the EOCO boss of threatening him and his family.

    “She actually called my wife to threaten my wife, children, and me. I thought that for someone of her calibre, who has been put in charge of a public office, to do that, I found that very appalling, and so I am going to make a formal complaint to the CID for her to be questioned,” Dr. Bonaa stated.

    Dr. Bonaa’s allegations stem from his petition to Parliament concerning the closure of investigations into the Cecilia Dapaah case, following a referral from the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

    COP Addo-Danquah, however, is prepared to address these issues head-on and expressed her readiness to appear before Parliament.

    “I am ever prepared and ready to face Parliament because it will be an opportunity to educate people like Bonaa on the mandate of EOCO. Stop running to the media and face me,” she challenged.

  • No ‘sensible’ person would vote COP Mensah as their MP – Adam Bonaa

    No ‘sensible’ person would vote COP Mensah as their MP – Adam Bonaa

    Security and safety analyst Dr. Adam Bonaa expresses that he expected the loss experienced by retired Commissioner of Police George Alex Mensah in the recent parliamentary primaries of the New Patriotic Party.

    Dr. Bonaa states that COP Alex Mensah’s behaviour and words in the leaked tape, where he sought the removal of the current Inspector-General of the Ghana Police Service, indicate that he is not suitable for the role of a parliamentarian.

    “I am not surprised by the results at all. I am not surprised in the sense that anyone who followed the leaked tape and the kind of things he said—every level-headed person—will shy away from electing such a person to represent him or her as a Member of Parliament.

    “I want to believe that the people of Bekwai are wise enough to ensure that such a person does not represent them in the august house of parliament, so I am not surprised,” he stated.

    Regarding COP Alex Mensah’s political future, Dr. Bonaa argues that the statements made by the senior officer during his appearance before the parliamentary committee investigating the leaked tape and its subsequent developments clearly suggest the conclusion of his political aspirations.

    “Going by the leaked committee report and going by the sittings of the committee, obviously he confirmed that he said all the things that were captured on the leaked tape.

    “He confirmed it was him and he also confirmed one way or another that he had been doing partisan politics while he was still in office. All these things and some lies that were told under oath, if you put these things together, you know that such a person is likely to be cited for perjury and you and I know that himself and the other senior officers who were captured conspiring to remove their IGP and destabilise this country is treasonable if the report indicts them,” he stated.

    “I want to believe that if the report comes out and they are culpable, they are obviously going to face criminal charges once they are indicted.

    “So as for his political career, I don’t want to go there. He couldn’t win a parliamentary primary. So, as far as I am concerned, his political career is over,” he said


    COP George Alex Mensah lost the New Patriotic Party’s primary in the Bekwai constituency to his rival, Ralph Poku-Adusei. He garnered only 245 votes, while Poku-Adusei secured victory with 662 votes.

    The other candidates, Henry Opoku Ware and Kingsley Opoku Agyemang, received 30 and 1 vote, respectively. The total votes cast were 938.

    The defeat follows the leak of a tape featuring COP Alex Mensah, Superintendent George Asare, and Superintendent Emmanuel Gyebi seeking support from the NPP’s former Northern Regional Chairman, Bugri Naabu, to remove IGP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

    In their efforts, they portrayed themselves as dedicated NPP members committed to ensuring the party stays in power in December 2024 at any cost.

  • Over politicization hindering solutions to Bawku conflict – Security Analyst

    Over politicization hindering solutions to Bawku conflict – Security Analyst

    The conflict in Bawku is being hindered in its resolution efforts due to excessive politicization, according to a security analyst, Dr. Adam Bonaa.

    Beyond the deployment of military personnel to the region, Dr. Bonaa emphasizes the importance of holding a dialogue session to make the community aware of the imperative to cease violence.

    During an appearance on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 on January 22, Dr. Bonaa stated, “You can put all your military and Police officers in Bawku, if the people in Bawku decide to kill themselves and we are not engaging them through rightful strategies and measures in trying to let them silent the gun, we will just be pushing in human resources and all.

    “What we are seeing today, some of us predicted it about a year ago and it is going to get worse unfortunately but then I think that we have the opportunity to fix it and fix it right the over-politicization of  this conflict is another thing some of us have spoken about.”

    He further highlighted the predictions made about a year ago, suggesting that the situation could worsen. Despite this, he remains optimistic about the opportunity to rectify the issues if handled appropriately. Dr. Bonaa expressed concern about the over-politicization of the conflict, emphasizing its detrimental impact.

    Recent incidents in Bawku, including a shooting at a community center resulting in two deaths and four injuries, have garnered attention. The Member of Parliament for Bawku, Mr. Mahama Ayariga, condemned the incident, urging law enforcement agencies to swiftly apprehend and address the perpetrators.

    Additionally, gunmen attacked a bus carrying students of the Presbyterian Nurses Training College, Bawku, near Binduri in the Upper East region on January 19. Mr. Ayariga confirmed the incident and expressed concern about the injuries sustained by students.

    In response to the escalating situation, the Minister for the Interior renewed the curfew hours imposed on Bawku Municipality and its environs, effective January 12, 2024. The government called on community leaders and residents to exercise restraint and use non-violent means to pursue peace. Furthermore, a total ban on carrying arms or ammunition was imposed, with violators subject to arrest and prosecution.

  • Adam Bonaa cautions gov’t against involving military in 2024 elections

    Adam Bonaa cautions gov’t against involving military in 2024 elections

    Security analyst Adam Bonaa has emphasized that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) should refrain from intervening in elections unless officially summoned. 

    This statement from Adam Bonaa follows Ghana’s Presidency refuting claims circulating in the public domain regarding politically motivated alterations within the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

    The comment comes after the Communication Director at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, issued a statement refuting allegations. Arhin clarified that the publication suggested a meeting occurred at the Presidency on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, to deliberate on the purported politically motivated changes within the Ghana Armed Forces.

    According to him, the meeting held with the Heads of Security agencies at Jubilee House on 2nd January 2024 is an annual feature on the President’s calendar at the beginning of the New Year.

    Speaking on Morning Starr with Francis Abban, the security analyst expressed worry on the use of the military during the just-ended District Level Elections.

    “We need to keep our military away from the frontline when it comes to elections in this country. I am happy the security heads met recently in putting together some guidelines on the elections.

    “The military should always be on standby and not be following DCE’s and MCE’s and members of Parliament around and terrorizing citizens, that is not the work of the military. That is what gives some of us cause for concerns.

    “What happened in 2020 were citizens died, some military were used here and there. In the District Assembly Elections some DCEs and MCEs and MP’s few of them used military men to intimidate citizens. District Assembly Elections that a lot of Ghanaians don’t go out to vote they used them.

    Mr. Bonaa stated that there will be confrontations if the government attempts to use the military in the upcoming 2024 elections.

  • Decision to scrap indelible ink risks election day chaos – Security Analyst tells EC

    Decision to scrap indelible ink risks election day chaos – Security Analyst tells EC

    Security and safety analyst, Dr. Adam Bonaa, has criticized the Electoral Commission’s recent decision to eliminate the use of indelible ink in the upcoming 2024 general election.

    Dr. Bonaa argued that the decision appears to lack careful consideration, emphasizing that indelible ink plays a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.

    Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb, Dr. Bonaa highlighted the prevailing issues of mistrust, distrust, and suspicion that often surround public elections in the country.

    He expressed concerns that abandoning indelible ink, a widely recognized tool for preventing double voting, might escalate tensions on election day.

    “It looks like the policy is not a well thought through policy. If you look at the issues we have when it comes to public elections in this country, they are issues to do with mistrust, distrust and suspicion.

    “You don’t want a situation where you are going to have an all-out confrontation amongst the citizenry vis-a-vis the EC officials and the security officers who are supposed to be manning the polling centres.

    “So to say that the indelible ink is not going to be used again is almost saying you are calling for an all-out war on election day because looking at the issues going into election 2024, there is suspicion everywhere.

    “NPP is telling us it wants to break the 8, NDC says it is staging a comeback and you already have some former officers or members of the NPP going independent and also threatening to win the elections. So if anybody tells you that 2024 elections is going to be quiet, that person probably does not understand what they are saying,” he stated.

    Dr. Bonaa cautioned against underestimating the potential for confrontations between citizens, Electoral Commission officials, and security officers responsible for managing polling centers.

    He suggested that signaling the discontinuation of indelible ink could be interpreted as inviting chaos, particularly given the heightened political atmosphere leading up to the 2024 elections.

    The Electoral Commission recently announced at a press conference that indelible ink would no longer be required, as a biometric authentication system would replace it. The system is being piloted during the ongoing district elections.

    EC Chairperson Jean Mensa expressed confidence in the new system, stating that once a voter is verified, they cannot come back for a second attempt.

    Despite the EC’s assurances, Dr. Bonaa argued that the decision might complicate the work of security agencies on election day. He called for the Electoral Commission to reconsider its stance and emphasized the importance of conducting extensive stakeholder engagement before making decisions with significant security implications.

    Dr. Bonaa acknowledged the EC’s independence but urged them to prioritize comprehensive discussions with relevant stakeholders to maintain public trust in the electoral process.

  • Adam Bonaa suggests a “disciplinarian” like Amoako Atta as running mate for Bawumia

    Adam Bonaa suggests a “disciplinarian” like Amoako Atta as running mate for Bawumia

    Security and safety analyst, Dr Adam Bonaa, has called on the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to consider factors other than geographic and ethnic background while deciding on his running mate for the 2024 presidential election.

    He claims that although certain names have been mentioned and the discussion has mostly focused on geographic and ethnic background, it would be beneficial for the vice president to broaden the scope to include aspects like discipline and gender, among other things.

    “If you ask me, I will say that the vice president together with those in charge of getting a running mate for the NPP flagbearer should broaden the scope and use a certain yardstick in selecting this person. But all that we are hearing is that the person will have to come from a certain region so it’s almost like a done deal once you are from the Ashanti or a certain region.

    “But if you ask me, I think they should be using a certain scale; discipline and all that. If you ask me, it will be good to include a disciplinarian, someone like the Minister of Roads, Honourable Amoako Atta,” he told GhanaWeb in an interview.

    After Dr. Bawumia’s selection as the NPP flagbearer on November 4, 2023, discussions have intensified regarding the choice of his running mate. Various names, including Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Dr. Osei Adutwum, Madam Frema Akosua Osei-Opare, Ursula-Ekuful, and others, have been put forward as potential candidates.

    Additionally, there is a strong argument for selecting a candidate from the party’s strongholds, particularly the Ashanti and Eastern Regions.

    However, according to Dr. Bonaa, the emphasis in choosing Dr. Bawumia’s running mate should revolve more around character.

    “You need people who are disciplined not who are not loose talkers, not people who will divide the country. You need people who as running mate will do a lot more in trying to let us know what the party stands for and what Ghanaians will get if the party is elected instead of just looking at it from a point of once I am from this region and my name has come up very likely I will be appointed,” Dr Bonaa argued.

  • Are we under rule of law or dictatorship – Security analyst shocked by ‘military assault’ against Garu residents

    Are we under rule of law or dictatorship – Security analyst shocked by ‘military assault’ against Garu residents

    Security analyst Dr Adam Bonaa, is shell-shocked by the maltreatment meted out to some Garu residents by National security operatives under the current government.

    Information from the Ministry of National Security indicates that on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, an irate youth group armed with AK 47 rifles, machetes and other weapons besieged a team of five counter-terrorism intelligence officers deployed by the Ministry of National Security to Garu, in the Upper East Region, on a critical, special operation.

    Despite initial attempts to introduce themselves as National Security personnel, the irate youth group proceeded to attack the officers by firing multiple gunshots at a black Toyota Land Cruiser in which the officers were seated.

    Following an escalation of the attacks on their vehicle, the officers drove to seek refuge at the Garu Police Station. The irate youth, subsequently, pursued the officers, encircled the police station and fired multiple shots at same with the intention of killing the officers.

    The Ministry of National Security and the Ghana Armed Forces, on Saturday, October 28, 2023, conducted a joint operation in Garu to seize weapons used by the perpetrators of the attack on the National Security personnel.

    According to the ministry, a number of the perpetrators have also been arrested.

    Per Dr Adam Bonaa’s account, some of the residents have been detained beyond 48 hours without being tried, which goes against the laws of the country.

    He condemned the measures that were put in place by the military which left over 50 residents hospitalised.

    According to him, such actions make it difficult to determine if the country is being governed via dictatorship or democracy.

    “You stray into an area with armed personnel, beat people to a pulp, arrest some of them, move them out of the jurisdiction, and some of them run into the bushes.

    “You come and lock them up for how many days. You have not taken them to any court of competent jurisdiction and so I is very difficult to say whether we are under the rule of law or under dictatorship. This is unlawful, what national security is doing. National Security cannot take these people to court. The police is there. The law says after the arrest, you take them to the police with all the evidence.

    “The police will prepare them and if there is any evidence, the police will take them to court,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has informed Parliament that the National Security Ministry plans to release all eight individuals arrested in Garu following disturbances in the area.

    The youth of Garu and Tempane are demanding the immediate release of their detained peers and have threatened to withdraw public services in the two communities if their demands are not met.

  • Prosecute refugees caught with weapons – Security analyst to govt

    Prosecute refugees caught with weapons – Security analyst to govt

    Security Analyst, Dr. Adam Bonaa, is firmly advocating for the prosecution of refugees apprehended with weapons and ammunition at the Ghana-Burkina Faso border.

    In light of the escalating hostility within the West Africa sub-region, he believes that individuals, even if they are refugees, who are suspected to be involved in terrorism, militancy, or armed conflict, should not be exempted from facing legal consequences under any circumstances.

    “Some of them could be terrorists or are combatants fleeing from the conflicts they have started in their country. Prosecute those caught and send them back to their home country to serve whatever sentence given them,” Dr Bonaa said.

    Following the arrest of refugees disguised as nursing mothers and found in possession of weapons, the National Security has significantly heightened surveillance measures at the country’s border with Burkina Faso.

    In response to this concerning incident, Dr. Bonaa emphasized the importance of the State working closely with neighboring countries, particularly those affected by conflicts, to gather comprehensive profiles of these alleged refugees. He further recommended that their fingerprints be taken before repatriating them.

    In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, he said: “The chances are that some of them will go, disguise themselves and come back again. Others too run into Ghana when the heat is on in their country, go back to stoke the fire when everything seemed to have died out.”

    Dr Bonaa said though Ghana was a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the arrested refugees should face the full rigours of the law without any fear that Ghana could be seen in bad light by the international community.

    “The international community should respect our sovereignty. As a member of the Commonwealth Nations and UN, we shall not allow anybody to come and destabilise this country,” he said.

    Earlier, the Deputy Defence Minister, Kwaku Amankwah Manu, stated that this recent development has compelled security agencies to strengthen their efforts in screening asylum seekers. He asserted that the government is resolute in not compromising the safety of Ghanaians in favor of protecting the rights of asylum seekers.

    “So, we really need to be on the lookout, we have the Ghanaian people to protect, we have properties to protect, we cannot say that because we want to be compassionate, we will not look at the security of our nation,” he said.

    Ranking Member on Defence and Interior committee of Parliament, James Agalga, said government had every right to screen the refugees, but must also be mindful of international treaties that protected the rights of the asylum seekers.

    “Government clearly has a commitment not to repatriate refugees who are refugees where they may face very serious threats to their lives and fundamental freedoms,” he said.

  • Security Analyst calls for dismissal of Police Commander in leaked plot to remove Dampare

    Security Analyst calls for dismissal of Police Commander in leaked plot to remove Dampare

    An audio recording, purportedly featuring a conversation between a Police Commissioner and a politician discussing a scheme to oust the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has sparked widespread controversy.

    A security analyst, Adam Bonaa, has strongly criticised the individuals implicated in the incident, asserting that they should be immediately dismissed from their positions without any further delay.

    The recording features an officer who identifies himself as “Mensah” and a politician who is reportedly a regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    Their conversation revolves around their intentions to oust the IGP due to fears that he would be too firm during the 2024 elections and prevent any potential rigging. The Commissioner specifically points to the IGP’s handling of the Assin North by-election as evidence of his commitment to ensuring free and fair elections.

    Reacting to the leaked audio in an interview with Starr FM on July 11, 2023, Adam Bona expressed his dismay at the leaked audio, describing it as “despicable” and an indictment on an institution that should protect democracy and the electoral process.

    “It’s a shame to have top police officials attempting to unseat one of their own in this despicable manner. And virtually indicting an institution that is supposed to help the referee to protect the sanctity of our democracy and our electoral process,” starrfm.com.gh quoted him to have said.

    He further stated that the top police officials involved should not continue in their positions. He highlighted the alarming nature of the conversation, noting that the questions raised by the politician in the audio were the same questions many concerned citizens would have asked.

    “So for me we will want to call it a day of shame. Listening to portions of the audio and for me I will say that these top police officials don’t deserve to be in the service, not a day beyond today. The simple reason is that as you heard, the Alhaji they were engaging asked a lot of questions that ordinarily some of us might even be asking,” he added.

  • Adam Bonaa supports Parliamentary probe into Bortianor killing, advises against live telecast

    Adam Bonaa supports Parliamentary probe into Bortianor killing, advises against live telecast

    Security Analyst Dr Adam Bonaa has welcomed the parliamentary probe into the recent Bortianor shooting incident, which claimed the lives of five people, but has cautioned Parliament to refrain from a live telecast of proceedings.

    This follows a demand by the Member of Parliament for Bortianor/Ngleshi/Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh, for an independent probe into the matter.

    Speaking to Starr News, Dr. Adam Bonaa said a live telecast of such a probe will present some challenges.

    “It’s going to be very difficult to have a televised probe into this. I say it’s going to be difficult because it will be extremely difficult to have eyewitnesses come in and say these guys were landguards or were not landguards. Mine is that, I will be urging the committee, if it has been formed, that their terms of reference should be well defined.

    “In the past, some of us would have called for a televised probe. But if you are not careful and call for a televised probe, you are likely not to have one single person come in to give an eyewitness account.

    “An eyewitness can come and say, yes, I know this person; he was a landguard. Those who might be giving testimonies should be given protection so that they don’t come and do anything and the next day their names are out, their faces are published in the media or social media, and they become targets themselves.”

    Background

    On June 8th, 2023, the police conducted an operation targeting criminal elements involved in robbery and landguard activities. These individuals had been terrorizing residents and landowners in Bortianor and nearby communities.

    Upon spotting the approaching police team, the suspects opened fire from their hideout, prompting the police to return fire. As a result, five of the suspects were injured and later pronounced dead at the hospital. The remaining suspects fled the scene and are still on the run.

    Exhibits retrieved from the crime scene include: one (1) AK47 assault rifle, ten (10) rounds of AK47 ammunition, one (1) pump action gun with nine (9) rounds of BB cartridges, two (2) pistols with ten (10) rounds of 9mm ammunition, one (1) unregistered Toyota Tacoma pickup, four (4) motorbikes, three (3) of which are unregistered, a knife, and a pepper spray.

    The police are actively pursuing the remaining suspects, some of whom are believed to have sustained gunshot injuries during the operation.

    Police appealed to the public, especially residents of the Bortianor community, to promptly report any individuals with gunshot wounds who may be seeking medical treatment.

    “Your cooperation will assist the police in taking immediate action,” a statement issued by the police said.

  • Most peaceful since 1992 – Security Analyst describes Kumawu bye-election

    Most peaceful since 1992 – Security Analyst describes Kumawu bye-election

    Security and safety analyst Dr. Adam Bonaa has commended Inspector-General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare and the Ghana Police Service (GPS) for overseeing what he considers the most peaceful by-election in the history of Ghana’s current Republic.

    In an interview with GhanaWeb, Dr. Bonaa stated that the recent by-election in the Kumawu Constituency was by far the most peaceful witnessed in Ghana since 1992, and that credit should be given to the current police administration.

    “Since 1992, when the Fourth Republican Constitution took effect, we haven’t really had any by-elections that were not characterized by violence. All by-elections from that time until the 2020 general election, including the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election that ushered in the 2020 election, were marred by violence. So, it is good that we are beginning to see some semblance of stability and peace during elections, and I must say kudos to the security agencies, particularly Dampare and his team,” he said.

    Dr. Bonaa expressed hope that the success in terms of election security would be sustained through the efforts of the police. He also congratulated political parties, including the NPP and the NDC, as well as other stakeholders, for committing to peace in the Kumawu by-election.

    Upcoming Election in Assin North

    Following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that declared the election of James Gyekye Quayson as the Member of Parliament for Assin North unconstitutional, a by-election is expected to be held to elect a new MP.

    Looking ahead to the anticipated by-election in Assin North, Dr. Bonaa stated that the police must replicate their security measures from Kumawu to ensure a peaceful election in the constituency and in other upcoming elections, including the New Patriotic Party’s presidential and parliamentary primaries, as well as the 2024 general elections.

    “I expect the police to prove to Ghanaians that what happened in Kumawu was not just an isolated incident. Their tactics worked, and if everything goes well, Assin North will also witness one of the most peaceful by-elections. I also expect the same level of security in the NPP flagbearership contest, which won’t be an easy task for any security agency. However, we anticipate that they will navigate their way into the 2024 elections,” Dr. Bonaa stated.

    No Need for Military

    The security and safety analyst emphasized the importance of keeping the military away from election monitoring activities in the country.

    “I must also add that some of us have advocated for the use of the military in elections to be a thing of the past. The military should be the last resort when things go terribly wrong. Placing them at the forefront does not help us and has never helped us. So, some of us continue to advocate for keeping them on standby so that if the police need them, they can be called upon. National Security caused mayhem in Ayawaso West Wuogon, and it took the police to exert their authority and restore order,” Dr. Bonaa added.

    He concluded by stating that if all security agencies adhere to the protocols laid out by the Ghana Police Service, Ghana can rewrite history when it comes to the democratic process of voting.

  • Small scale, illegal miners could clash over flashout threat – Bonaa warns

    Small scale, illegal miners could clash over flashout threat – Bonaa warns

    A security analyst, Adam Bonaa has advised the government to take steps in addressing the concerns of the Small Scale Miners Association.

    This comes on the back of the two weeks ultimatum given to the government by the Small Scale Miners Association to flush out illegal miners operating in the forest reserves in the country.

    According to the miners, they will flash out the illegal miners from the forest if the government fails to do so after the ultimatum.

    Commenting on the matter on Starr News, Mr. Bonaa indicated that the laws of the country justify the actions the Small Scale Miners want to take.

    “I think we should take it very seriously. We should treat it as a country very seriously. But I think that they are within the law if they decide to flash out illegal small-scale miners and foreigners and by extension Chinese nationals who are depleting our forest cover and destroying our water bodies.

    “The law mandates them if you look at section 12 of the criminal code, the 12.1(B) talks about a private person may arrest without a warrant a person who commits an offence in his presence. The D talks about an offence of injury to public property and water bodies, forest reserve all these names I have mentioned we will refer to as public property,” Mr. Bonaa stated.

    He continued: “And so, I think the two weeks ultimatum they have given if the government or whoever is responsible for it refuses to act, I don’t think they will be breaching any law if they enter into these areas and arrest all these suspected foreign nationals or suspected illegal small-scale miners and hand them over to the police within a reasonable time. That is what the law says and they wouldn’t be breaching any law. The only thing is that the state should not wait for that to happen because the spillover we might not be able to deal with it.”

    According to the security analyst, the state has been careless in dealing with illegal small-scale miners and the Chinese or foreign nationals who he alleged are destroying the water bodies and forest cover.

    Mr. Bonaa, therefore, advised the State to act fast in dealing with the situation since the consequences and spill-over could be dire and may not be easily handled by the security agencies.

    “So, as far as I am concerned the State should for once take up that mantle and ensure that they don’t look on while the private citizens decide to invoke section 12 of the criminal code. We shouldn’t sit and say go ahead and arrest these people because they are committing an offence that involves injury to public property. Like you referred to, most of these guys are armed, with sophisticated weapons like AK47s, some of them have pump action guns, side arms and the list is unending.

    “I wouldn’t be able to tell what format the arrest is going to be. Are they concerned small-scale miners also going to be armed going there? Then you are likely to have an all-out war because then they are going to go in for probably a shootout. Probably, if that happens then the state is going to come back to its senses and perform its national duty by ensuring that our water bodies are not destroyed.”

  • Bipartisan probe into bullion van robberies will help restore confidence in the police Adam Bonaa

    Security analyst, Dr Adam Bonaa, has stated that a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into the killing of two key police officers suspected of being involved in the recent bullion van robberies will help restore confidence in the Ghana Police Service.

    According to him, given that the police officers are suspected to be involved in the bullion van robberies, it is essential to ensure that an independent body conducts an investigation into the matter rather than the police, myjoyonline.com reported.

    “As far as I’m concerned, a bipartisan probe is something that I will welcome. In any case, once there is loss of life, usually, the police themselves would have to institute various forms of investigations. But I want to believe that this probably would be the first of its kind where we have a bipartisan probe involving such a matter. And so, whatever findings they’re able to bring out, and recommendations, will go a long way to help the Police Service itself,” Bonah is quoted.

    Also, the security analyst advocated for the setting up of a ‘Police Complaint Authority or Commission‘ to handle matters relating to the police.

    He said that such a commission would ensure that recommendations of inquiries into the police services are effectively implemented.

    Dr Bonah was reacting to a motion filed in parliament by the minority caucus for a probe into the bullion van robberies.

    The minority caucus in parliament filed a private member’s motion in the House, asking for a bipartisan inquiry to be carried into the circumstances leading to the death of two police officers who were indicted for recent bullion van robbery attacks recorded in the country.

    Addressing the media on the basis for their motion in Parliament on Thursday, March 17, 2022, a Ranking Member on the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament, James Agalga, said, “The killing of the two police officers has now resulted in a situation where the police administration would be denied of very crucial evidence in its quest to unravel the bullion robberies in our country.”

    “What makes the matter even more worrying is the fact that the persons implicated, some of whom are now dead, are, themselves, police officers. That is what makes a probe and an inquiry very compelling,” he added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Unexplained wealth among young people increasing due to lack of investigations Bonaa

    A Security analyst, Adam Bonaa, has noted that unexplained wealth among young people in Ghana is increasing because there is no questioning of the source of the properties acquired.

    “Nobody is investigating anyone so you have young people who have unexplained wealth,” he told Alfred Ocansey on the Sunrise show on 3FM Monday, January 10.

    It would be recalled that the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng explained when wealth acquired by persons in Ghana could be described as unexplained wealth.

    He told the appointments committee of Parliament during his vetting on Thursday, July 22, 2021, that if persons are unable to explain the source of the wealth as against the lawful income they earn, then it qualifies to be described as unexplained wealth.

    Asked by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu to explain what unexplained wealth is, Mr. Agyebeng said “It is a bit too overbroad to explain unexplained wealth in criminal jurisprudence, criminal construct should be more pointed, more focused and delineated because of the specter of someone ending up in jail, losing his liberty or being fined hefty fine an amount.

    “And so if we are to place it in proper context, unexplained wealth, I would say if the person cannot reasonably explain as marched against his lawful income, the amount of money in questions then that aspect, in my opinion, should be criminalized.

    “But if you can reasonably explain how you came by that amount of money then that should be acceptable.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Election security task force should solely be led by Ghana Police Service Adam Bonaa

    Security analyst, Adam Bonaa, has asked the Ghana Police Service to take absolute control of the entire security arrangements in the country ahead of the December polls.

    According to him, this would prevent duplicity in roles of the service men and possible confusion on the election day.

    Addressing the media during an Institute of Security, Safety and Policy Research (ISSPR) press conference on election security, he said; “We entreat the Ghana Police Service headed by the IGP to take full responsibility over the coordination of all other state and allied security agencies charged with the provision of security before, during and after the election…”

    Adding that; “the election security taskforce should be solely led by the Ghana Police Service, to create a congenial atmosphere on the 7th of December.”

    Adam Bonaa further advised that members of the Ghana Armed Forces must not be deployed on the election day, unless under urgent circumstances through an Executive Instrument.

    He also emphasized that none of the military men should be seen loitering around the collation centre or any other polling station in the country as they could heighten insecurity in the country.

    “Members of the Ghana Armed Forces that is the military should not be seen anywhere close to polling and collation centres before, during and after election unless otherwise required by the president through an Executive Instrument,” Adam Bonaa recommended.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com