Handling of #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest a national security failure – Arnold Appiah

President of NDC Professionals Forum USA Mr. Arnold Appiah has said the arrest and brutalization of demonstrators and journalists on the first day of the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest is a “national security failure on the part of government”.

According to him, the government did not see that coming and that since they took over power “their agenda has been to suppress people to allow them to operate the way want, that no one can question them”. And that they are using state institutions to suppress the people.

Mr. Appiah was making his contribution via zoom in a panel discussion on the ‘Professionals Forum’ on Class 91.3 fm in Accra. He indicated that the Akufo Addo government has planted their people at every authority in the country so that they can easily manipulate them to their advantage. “If you look at the mindset of this government in their Agyapa deal itself they stated that they would have to ensure that they put their people at every authority they can find in the country.

He said the government has been consistent in the level of suppression, everyone is quite and that if you speak there is someone to shut you down. “It is a grand scheme of the president and his administration to do so while they continue to loot the country, while they continue to have corruption in a wide spree and no one would have a word to say to them.

According to Mr. Appiah intimated that he has heard the national security has been buying institutions and individuals no to speak ill of the government. It is therefore a national security breach at a time the president was at the United Nations claiming reparations while he could not “repair your people with resources you have”.

Mr. Appiah was however concerned about the growing apathy of some youths during demonstrations. He noted that though, not everybody could speak up, he lauded the gallant ones that showed up for the #OccupyJulorbiHouse protest. He urged especially traditional rulers and the clergy speak up for the Ghanaian youth.