Johnson Ayine, a communications team member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region, has expressed surprise and disappointment over the continued raids by security officials on the homes of former government appointees. He emphasized that despite the country’s past experiences, the lessons learned have not been fully embraced, leading to repeated governance missteps.
“I am so surprised that we are still witnessing these kinds of situations.”
Speaking during an interview on A1 Radio, Mr. Ayine pointed out that President John Mahama, who has held numerous political positions over the years, should have been a model for good governance, setting an example for others to follow. However, he believes that some elements within the government, entrusted with power, sometimes misuse it, tarnishing the reputation of the leadership and potentially harming the government’s credibility.
“I thought John Mahama, witnessing all these things—from being an MP to minister, to vice president, president, voted out, and coming back as president—would have been the best to set a very good precedent for all of us to follow. Unfortunately, this is what is going on.”
“You may have a good government, you may have a good president, but elements that he delegates his powers to can misbehave and give him a bad name.”
He further criticized the current approach to handling corruption allegations, arguing that it is flawed. Instead of a fair and legal process, he contends that suspected individuals are subjected to raids and harassment, which undermines the rule of law. He stated that when individuals are accused of wrongdoing, the proper course of action should be to charge and prosecute them rather than rely on suspicion and forceful tactics.
“Is it a crime in this country to serve? If somebody has stolen money, is that the process to go and take the money?”
Reflecting on past incidents, Mr. Ayine recalled witnessing similar events in 2001, 2009, and 2017, stating that the country has yet to learn from these experiences. He stressed that political intolerance and the selective condemnation of misconduct—depending on which party is in power—remain significant issues. He also noted that while corruption allegations will always persist, they should not be used as a justification for harassing individuals who are no longer in power.
“To me, what is going on—I have gone through them. In 2001, I witnessed what happened. In 2009, I witnessed what happened. In 2017, I witnessed what happened. And now, I’m witnessing what is going on. We should have learned, but we are not learning.”
“Corruption allegations will continue to exist, but that is not a reason to harass people just because they are no longer in power. The law courts are there.”
His comments followed the recent escalation of security operations, where armed operatives from the National Security raided the home of former Bank of Ghana Governor Ernest Addison. During the raid, authorities seized multiple vehicles and disabled the CCTV systems installed at the residence. This operation is one of a series of incidents in recent weeks, fueling growing concerns over the extent of security operations in the country. While the full details of the investigation remain unclear, the actions taken against these former appointees have raised significant questions about the nature of these operations and the legal procedures surrounding them.
Source: A1Radioonline.com | 101.1MHz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor| Bolgatanga
