…. Travelers Using Aflao Border Call For His Removal
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) which has carved a respectable image for itself for being one of the disciplined State security Agency in the country, could have its image tarnished with the conduct of some of its officials.
Indeed, the conduct of some of its officials stationed at the Aflao border seem to be far against the Code of Conduct of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Information gathered from the Aflao border indicate that Staff Sergeant Mustapha, who has been stationed at the border to ensure security and prevent crime is alleged to have turned himself into a demi-god, who imposes his own rules on travelers and community people.
Sources close to his office revealed that, he has created his own cell where he arrests and detail people, especially travelers base on some flimsy accusations.
An incident however occurred in Aflao last Saturday when Staff Sergeant Mustapha locked up a Freelance journalist, Daniel Akpalu, for no reason.
According to the information, the Journalist who made a follow up to the office of Staff Sergeant Mustapha’s office where his brother was mistakenly picked up together with other suspects.
However, upon reaching the Sergeant’s office, an order was made by Staff Sergeant Mustapha ordering his two National Security personnel attached to his office to lock the journalist up foe coming into his office.
” he locked me up together with my brother after I introduced myself as a journalist,” Daniel Akpalu said in a telephone conversation.
Explaining the incident to spyghana.com, Daniel Akpalu noted that “I sent my brother to the border to purchase something for me but he was keeping too long so I called his phone and I was told he was arrested. I quickly went there to see what might cause his arrest only for Staff Sergeant Mustapha to order for my arrest and detention. They put me through rigorous checks. When I introduced myself to them as a Journalist, he demanded to see my identification which I did.”
He mentioned that from what he gathered, an arrest was made on some money changers, who allegedly tried to cheat a client, and during the time of the arrest, his brother who was on errand for him happened to be passing by when they arrested him also as part of the suspects.
Daniel Akpalu continued to say that, after looking at his identification and other documents he was carrying along, Staff Sergeant Mustapha placed a call to the Aflao Divisional Police Command and requested for the crime officer, who came and took him (Daniel Akpau) away to the police station for further interrogation.
“To be sincere with you they didn’t tell me what my crime was,” he said.
According to him, it took the Aflao Divisional Commander to finally release him.
In a follow up however, the Crime officer confirmed that incident occurred but denied the fact that Daniel Akpalu was detained in cells.
But when spyghana contacted an eye witness who also happened to intervene in the whole saga on Daniel Akpalu’s behalf when he was locked in Staff Sergeant Mustapha’s own cell corroborated the information earlier gathered.
According to Kwame Asibi, an immigration officer, who was also an eye witness, although he was not aware of what transpired, he came to meet Daniel Akpalu in Sergeant Mustapha’s cells under serious detention.
“I even talked to the people to see if they could release him. Yes as for me , I was not there from the beginning but the journalist was detained. That is all I can say,” he said.
But when he was made to understand that the Crime officer denied Daniel Akpalu’s detention allegation, Kwame Asibi has this to say, “that is what the crime officer will tell you. You know, he came later when Daniel Akpalu was released, and he was asked to take him away.”
Considering the level of other damning allegations received against Staff Sergeant Mustapha, spyghana took the pain to conduct some investigations. This revealed that there have been discomfort within the travelling population to the conduct of Staff Sergeant Mustapha.
According to some travelers, Staff Sergeant Mustapha should not be allowed to be at the Aflao post since his presence there is putting the integrity of the arm force in jeopardy. “The image of the Ghana Arm Force will diminish if he is allowed to stay there,” a traveller said.
They also alleged that Staff Sergeant Mustapha do collect motobikes and money from people who arrests.
They also averred that he most at times intimidate and subdue travelers including Togolese who are coming into Ghana to do business, detain them and take money from them.
However, attempts to contact Staff Sergeant Mustapha to comment on the story proved futile.
