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Albert Kan-Dapaah, Member of Parliament for Afigya Sekyere West, has denied reports that he authorised the engagement of thugs to intimidate the citizenry during the December 2008 elections. Mr Kan-Dapaah, a former Minister of Defence, pointed out that �I have never authorised and/or instructed Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong or any other person to hire any thugs in connection with any election or any other event.� In his capacity as Defence Minister in 2008, he also denied telling Mr Agyapong or any person or persons that the security of the state had broken down as claimed in the rumours which made the rounds recently. He emphasized, �The loyalty of the security forces at all material times to the state of Ghana and President Kufuor, the then Commander-In-Chief, during the 2008 general elections was unalloyed and could not therefore have warranted my making the pronouncement alleged by Hon. Kennedy Agyapong.� As Defence Minister during the period under review, he said, he came to appreciate and still appreciates the professional competence of �our armed forces and held the men and women of that institution in high esteem�. As an MP since January 7, 1997 to date, he described his belief and confidence in multiparty democracy as redoubtable and impeccable. For this reason, therefore, he said, �I will not either in private or public take any step to subvert Ghana�s constitutional order�, adding, �For this reason, I entreat all to disregard the said comments attributed to Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong in relation to me as incorrect.�