A Ghana airport security, Awudu Basit has been interdicted for demanding to conduct a pre-boarding search on Minister for National Security, Albert Kan Dapah.
According to reports, Awudu was assigned to perform airside patrol services at the Kumasi Airport on 8th September, 2022.
Whiles on duty, Awudu reportedly saw the minister emerging from the VVIP lounge to board Africa World Airline flight at about 2.30pm.
He allegedly then approached the minister and demanded to conduct the search on him in the open frontage of the VVIP Lounge which ended up “embarrassing the minister”.
Awudu’s interdiction letter dated the same day (8th September) and signed by the Group Executive in charge of Human Capital and Office Services, R.S. Tagoe reads “in view of the negative impression it cast on the company’s image and integrity, management has decided to thouroughly investigate the circumstances leading to this incident”.
It continues that in line with the relevant Articles of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, “we notify you of your interdiction from Friday, September 9, 2022 pending the completion of investigations into the matter”.
Awudu has not made any public comments on the matter yet and it is not clear what motivated him to want to conduct the check on the minister.
It is also not clear if he knew it was the National Security Minister he was dealing with.
However some commentators say he was simply carrying out his duties.
One person wrote “The innocent guy was just applying the security laws and he is interdicted. Are there different applicable laws for VVIP’s and different ones for we the “sankwas?”
Another writes “What could be the reason why he opted to conduct a pre-boarding search on someone emerging from a VVIP lounge?
Is it the case that he acted on a tip off or he was instructed to act they way he did just to embarrass the minister?
It is inappropriate to *openly conduct a security check* on a minister for national security. He need to answer for his actions. The minister is not above the law, but there is a reason why he was using the VVIP lounge and not the normal passengers boarding gate”
SOURCE theghanaianvoice
