Armed Forces’ decision to re-appoint Lt. Col. Agyeman strange – CDD-Ghana

The Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), says the new appointment of Lt. Col. Frank Agyeman as the Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Regiment by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is shrouded with mystery.

Dr Kojo Asante, speaking on Joy FM on Monday cited by Trendingghana.net stated that with current investigations into the assault against Citi FM journalist, a re-assignment was not the appropriate action to have been taken following his release from the National Security.

“One will say that intuitively, everybody will expect that at the minimum, some enquiry or investigation would happen first. I mean there was no rush, it is not like the 64 battalion is going into whatever that needs to be done in 24 hours that you would even put somebody who is under that cloud to be commanding such a position. So the whole thing is a bit strange,” he told Evans Mensah.

Lt. Col. Frank Agyeman and three others were sent down to their mother agencies for further investigations and appropriate sanctions following their alleged misconduct in the manhandling of Caleb Kudah for filming at National Security premises.

“The secondment of Lieutenant Colonel Frank Agyeman at the Ministry has been reversed. The officer is to report to the Chief of Defence Staff for further investigation and appropriate action,” National Security’s letter communicated.

But recent reports reveal that the former Director of Operations at the National Security has been elevated by the Ghana Armed Forces in a May 21 circular sighted by JoyNews.

According to Dr Asante, the National Security Council’s letter written to GAF calling for sanctions against its officer seems to have been neglected.

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“I was surprised when I got the news because there are a whole number of things that are wrong. First of all, National Security, the Ministry took a step that we all welcomed and applauded and we want to follow the next step,” he added.

Meanwhile, CDD-Ghana has called on the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate circumstances leading to the alleged assault on Caleb Kudah by the said operatives.

The failure of the relevant state institutions to effectively investigate assault on journalists in recent times, according to the Centre says is the reason for its call.