Baba Kamara Isn't Fit To Be National Security Advisor - Kweku Baako

Kweku Baako, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, has expressed strong disapproval of the appointment of Baba Kamara as the new National Security Advisor.

The newly appointed National Security Advisor is still under investigation by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over his alleged involvement in the infamous Mabey and Johnson scandal about six years ago.

Following the announcement of the government's new appointee, some institutions and political figures have frowned at President John Mahama's decision to have Baba Kamara on the National Security apparatus.

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) appealed to the President to suspend his appointment until he (Kamara) is cleared off the bribery allegation leveled against him.

“One would have expected that something would have been done about it [since 2009]” but “the long silence means that CHRAJ is not interested in the case,” Executive Director of the GII, Vitus Azeem told the media in an interview.

Baba Karama was alleged to have served as a conduit through whom some of the bribe money got to top government officials in the Rawlings government.

Former High Commissioner to Nigeria Baba Kamara, former Health Minister Dr. Sipa Yankey and former Roads Minster Ato Quarshie were alleged to have benefitted from £750,000 largesse from Mabey & Johnson, a British bridge construction firm that sought to win projects in the country.

Dr. Sipa Yankey had to resign from his position and Emile Short, the then Commissioner of CHRAJ began investigations which have been left hanging since his exit. But two Commissioners have been at the helm of CHRAJ since 2009 and neither Anna Bossman nor her successor Lauretta Lamptey has been able to bring finality to the case.

No questions have been raised since Baba Kamara was appointed as Advisor to the President but his new role has brought him under greater public scrutiny.

Adding his voice to the numerous calls on President Mahama to suspend the appointment, Mr. Baako told Kwami Sefa Kayi, host of Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" that Baba Kamara is not fit to hold that particular position.

According to him, he (Baba Kamara) doesn't pass the mark to become the National Security Advisor in the country. He held strongly that "he (Kamara) is not the right choice for National Security Advisor."

"I don’t think National Security Advisor fits him. He doesn’t the fit the bill."

Meanwhile, CHRAJ says there is nothing untoward about Baba Kamara, the new National Security Advisor, taking up such role.