The BNI and the terror garb

The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) is considered by some Ghanaians as a terror institution thus defying its basic role as an investigative entity. The BNI description is often applauded by people who think they are unduly terrorized by operatives of the national investigation institution.

Officials of the former NPP administration believe they are currently at the receiving end of BNI’s aggression and terror. Before then, the NDC had cried against what they considered as harassment against their people by the BNI when the party went into opposition in 2001.

Similar allegations were levelled against the BNI during the first administration of the NDC from 1993 to 2001 by the NPP and other minority parties. The current description of the BNI has a place in history. Then known as the Special Branch under General Kutu Acheampong’s Supreme Military Council (SMC) administration, operatives of the entity engaged in many acts that were considered inimical to the liberty and freedom of many who were considered as opponents of that administration.

Some military officers at the time, who were accused of plot to overthrow the Acheampong administration, believed the implication by the SMC was part of the ploy by the Special Branch to get them out of the army because they were against many of the policies adopted by the Acheampong administration.

We dare ask at all whether there is any basis in the allegations against the BNI. Of course, any person or institution which felt being harassed is likely to condemn any such institution in a manner that will elicit populist or public sympathy.

On the other hand if the allegations being levelled against the BNI is induced politically, then we submit that the BNI should be allowed to do its work. This is because any action of the BNI has the potential of affecting a section of the society at any given time.

Perhaps the modus operandi of the BNI in the event of change of government has given rise to the suspicion that the BNI is being manipulated by sitting governments to carry out vendetta against their political opponents.

The embarrassing manner the BNI is seizing vehicles of former government officials of the NPP, where in many instances government had to apologize for the altercation suggest that the BNI is not conforming to its basic role as an investigative body. It is therefore not surprise for the various interpretations that people are reading into the exercise.

Again, the paper is not oblivious of the manner the BNI is causing unnecessary tension by the manner it has invited officials of the former government for interrogation. What otherwise should have been invitation of officials that are being investigated by the BNI has assumed an interpretation that could easily pass as arrest, simply because of the manner the exercise is being carried out by the BNI.

We must reiterate that similar terror was unleashed on NDC functionaries when the NPP assumed the reigns of power in 2001. So when will such re-cycling terror on political opponents by using the BNI as a decoy end in this country?

For many politicians, the assumption of power is the period to exact their pound of flesh from people who they perceive to have given them raw deals when they were in opposition. But should the BNI renege on it laid down functions and perform such acts that are easily seen as political vendetta? Certainly not!

The BNI is creating a bad image for itself and if they do not stop such practice, the paper believes the wedge being created by the BNI in our political cycle or divide will persist in the coming years.