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The Executive Director for Bureau of Public Safety has kicked against the idea to protect Members of Parliament (MPs) after the death of the Mfantseman MP.
 
Nana Yaw Akwada in an interview with NEAT FM’s morning show 'Ghana Montie' said he is “shocked” by the move from the Interior Ministry after claiming the MP’s death is not different from others.
 
“So, we have an Interior Minister who only thinks about protecting Members of Parliament, it’s shocking,” he said. 
 
“What happened to doctors, journalists, chiefs, nurses, and other Ghanaians killed in similar situations? I am very sad and angry. It’s insulting for the Minster to only protect MPs and leave those who voted them into power. It’s unfortunate,” he added.
 
His comment comes on the back of the Interior Minister’s announcement that 200 police guards will be added to the parliamentary protection unit as part of measures to enhance security for the lawmakers.
 
According to Mr. Ambrose Dery, the 200 additional police personnel will augment the parliamentary protection unit to a divisional police command.
 
He was speaking to the parliamentary press corps on Tuesday, 13th October, 2020, after appearing in parliament following his summoning by Speaker Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye in the aftermath of the killing of Mfantseman MP, Ekow Hayford by alleged armed robbers last Friday.

He emphasised that the security of members of the house has always been a priority to the Ministry.

“I want you to note that security for parliamentarians has always been the principle.

“From 1992, we had the parliamentary protection unit of the police established here. What has remained over the years is the extent to which security has been provided.

“So, I want you to understand that the protection of Members of Parliament is part of the general national security architecture, which, first of all, is being taken care of by a number of strategies that have been put in place,” Mr. Dery noted.

“However, the truth of the matter on the ground is that, so far, the extent has been limited. First, the precinct of parliament is protected by security; the police, and, so, that gives to what I was talking about but when we leave here, there’s no protection for us. 

“When you look at those categories of persons who are provided, first bodyguards, second residential protection by the police for day and night, they fall into that group that we deal with under Article 71.

“So, the security is certainly part of those facilities that should be available to Members of Parliament,” he told the House. 
 
But Nana Yaw Akwada insists that every Ghanaian need protection after bemoaning the rise of crime rate in the country.
 
“If it has moved from the ordinary person to a member of parliament, then we all need protection from the state,” he told host Mac Jerry Osei-Agyeman.