The Interior Ministry is proposing a national debate on calls for MPs to be provided with security following the stabbing to death of Abuakwa North MP, J.B. Danquah-Adu.
Several MPs have over the years called for adequate security following cases of robbery attempts and physical attacks on them. But those opposed to the idea have argued for a rather improved security of all Ghanaians and not only improved security for MPs.
The debate has been reignited following the death of the Abuakwa North legislator.
Deputy Interior Minister James Agalga, told Citi News a holistic approach is needed in dealing with the matter.
“The security of MPs is one that needs to be looked at. We need to adopt a holistic approach in dealing with that issue. We must remember that we have about 275 MPs and so what it means is that, the state has to look at ways of providing 275 MPs with security and that definitely is going to come with a lot of financial implications. The leadership of Parliament is going to be engaged for us to adopt a common strategy with regards to the security of MPs.”
Joseph Boakye Danquah-Adu was stabbed to death at his residence on Tuesday at Shiashi where he lived with his family.
Five persons including two women, and three men, have been arrested in connection with the killing.
The five includes a private security guard who was in the house on the day of the incident. The others are said to be residents of the house, but the police did not give further details about their identity.
Neighbors claims
In an interaction with some neighbors of the late MP, they told Fred Djabanor that they heard about the struggling between the MP and his attackers, which forced them out of their homes only to find out that he had been killed.
They claimed to have seen a ladder behind the late MP’s bedroom, which they suspect was used by the assailants. According to them, they saw a man run out of the house but he could not use the main entrance because they had by then called in the police who were stationed at the gate waiting to enter.
About J.B Danquah
The late Joseph Boakye Danquah, once served as a Deputy Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs. He was the Abuakwa North MP from 2000 until 2008, when he lost the seat to the NPP’s Prof. Samuel Amoako. He returned in 2012 to win the seat.
He left behind a wife and two children. Joseph Boakye Danquah, a chartered Accountant by profession, is the grandson of late J.B Danquah, a Ghanaian statesman, pan-Africanist, scholar and historian, who played a significant role in pre- and post-colonial Ghana.
J.B Danquah escaped similar attack in 2010
The late MP escaped a similar attack in 2010, although Citi News has no facts to suggest that the incident of 2010 is connected to the current one. In that attack, the MP sustained a deep cut on his arm.
The assailants attacked him at a house at East Legon, believed to be his then girlfriend’s house. In February 2013, three persons who were prosecuted for allegedly causing harm to the late MP in that attack were convicted with fines.
In that case, the married MP’s girlfriend, was the one accused of plotting the attack on him over his refusal to give her money.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie