Uneasy Calm At Burma Camp Over Prez Mahama�s Aide de Camp

The issue of which security institution has the mandate to serve as an Aide de Camp (ADC) for the President of the Republic of Ghana is creating simmering tension between the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and the Ghana Police Service. Whilst GAF sources claim the President might have erred in changing tradition by using a policeman as his ADC, police sources are also of the view that the President has no constitutional obligation to continue with that tradition. The politicians are equally divided over the issue, depending on which side of the political divide one belongs. On the 7th of January, this year, when Presidents and dignitaries from Africa were paying homage to His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama at the Independence Square in Accra, a naval officer of the rank of Acting Commander was his ADC. Investigations, however, revealed that the naval officer was actually a Lieutenant Commander, but had to assume the rank of Acting Commander, which is commensurate with the job. Today, a Chief Superintendent of Police, promoted from Deputy Superintendent, is the ADC of the President of the Republic. GAF sources are of the view that throughout the republics of Ghana, from Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, Dr. Hilla Limann, Flt-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor to Professor John Evan Atta Mills, it has been the traditional role of the military to be personal secretary, assistant or adjutant of the presidents. The President, the sources argued, is the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, and by that reasoning, a soldier, seaman or airman has to assume the role of ADC, citing examples of service commanders whose ADCs are from within the military, let alone their Commander-In-Chief. The police sources, on the other hand, believe that it is the sole prerogative of the President to choose who he wants to be his ADC, and that should rest the case. Chiefs of staff of two different political dispensations, when contacted on this dicey issue, were equally of different opinions. One of them supports the stand by the military of a traditional role, while the other feels that this is no matter to be belaboured to waste precious time.