Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak has disclosed that foreign security counterparts are hesitating to share intelligence with Ghana’s security agencies due to insider leaks.
He explained that foreign partners are now uncertain about whether information shared with Ghanaian authorities will remain secure or whether it could be compromised by officials involved in criminal activities.
“And now our counterparts abroad are even beginning to doubt to give us information because they trace it to an insider,” he said.
“So, they don’t know whether the insider, the Minister is part of it or the coordinator is part of it and now you are asking them to give you information, meanwhile they have not finished with their investigation. Will the information be secured? Or it will also be abused?” he asked.
The Minister made the remarks after he claimed that some insiders in security agencies are aiding and abetting criminal activities.
He warned that the situation is undermining confidence in Ghana’s security institutions and affecting cooperation with foreign counterparts.
According to him, individuals entrusted with sensitive responsibilities within the security system are sometimes allegedly exploiting their positions to aid criminals.
“It is sad that even the recent case we are hearing, you hear it is insiders aiding and abetting criminals,” he said.
Muntaka said personnel assigned sensitive duties undergo training and background checks before being entrusted with such responsibilities.
He said such conduct could have serious implications for Ghana’s ability to obtain sensitive intelligence from foreign partners, as international agencies could become reluctant to share information over concerns about possible leaks.
“Before you are taken to do certain role, even your background will be checked and screened subject with that position. Now, when you sit and when you are comfortable, you are trading with that position and when the thing comes, it comes the Government, the Minister, the Coordinator.
“Meanwhile, the very person that has been trained and trusted with that responsibility is now trading with it,” he stated.
Muntaka stressed that with the recent cocaine bust, Australia and France, are reluctant to share intelligence with Ghana over concerns of possible insider involvement.
“So, the situation that we have with the Australians is here, you see they are dragging their feet. Now, we have one with the France, the same.”
He disclosed that he was scheduled to meet the French Ambassador to discuss the matter and seek greater cooperation.
The Interior Minister also criticised attempts to politicise security operations, saying such conduct could further weaken public confidence in the security services.
“When you go in to arrest some of them, then they begin to say because I am NPP, because I am NDC. We try to even politicise the security services?” he asked.
Muntaka stressed the need for a change in attitude among personnel entrusted with sensitive responsibilities, warning that Ghana could not expect to solve the problem if insiders continued to compromise their positions.
“If we don’t change this attitude, there is no way we re going to get angels coming from the sky to come and solve this problem for us,” the Minister said.
