Ibrahim Mahama Intervenes As Nigerian Is Arrested for Blocking Apartment Entrance Near Jubilee House
- National Security operatives arrested Nigerian businessman Ben Peters at the Aurora Apartments in Kanda
- Peters' arrest followed the involvement of business tycoon and the president's brother, Ibrahim Mahama
- Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat Richard Jakpa was part of the operation
- YEN.com.gh spoke to NDC communicator Dr Bright Tato Forkuo to share his opinion about this situation
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National Security operatives have arrested Nigerian businessman Ben Peters at the Aurora Apartments in Kanda, near the Jubilee House, after the intervention of the president's brother, Ibrahim Mahama.
The arrest came during a joint operation with the police and military led by the Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat, Richard Jakpa and the Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency, Mustapha Gbande.
Source: Instagram
Citi News reported that the businessman, along with some unidentified armed men, blocked the entrance to the residential facility with his vehicles.
This robbed some occupants of free movement and access to their apartments.
Before being arrested, Peters allegedly went into hiding until the Mahama showed up at the scene and security was able to make the arrest.
The Nigerian businessman's vehicles also were seized by National Security following the arrest.
Commenting on the operation, Gbande said no one should behave that way in Ghana.
"It is illegal and unlawful. This cannot be done in Nigeria and certainly not in this country.”
Joy News reported that residents in the area expressed relief over what they described as long-standing grievances involving Peters.
The businessman has been living in the area for several years.
Some residents alleged that his activities in the neighbourhood had created disturbances and called for authorities to intervene.
Jacob Asamoah, a resident, said they had made multiple complaints to law enforcement about issues related to noise and congestion, and he welcomed the recent action by authorities.
“We’re hopeful that this development will bring some peace to our community."
Asamoah further alleged that some vehicles had been used to block the entrance to the apartments in recent times, causing inconvenience to other residents.
These complaints reportedly contributed to the response by security personnel.
Ben Peters has a controversial past
Peters is the owner of Nigeria-based Aiteo Group of Companies.
He has previously been linked to legal and political controversies in Nigeria and was named in court proceedings brought by a civil society organisation requesting action from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial misconduct.
However, no conviction or formal charge against Peters was confirmed.
In Ghana, his name surfaced during public discussions around the COVID-19 testing contract at Kotoka International Airport.
At the time, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, raised concerns about the transparency of the contract between the Ghana Airports Company Limited and Frontier Healthcare Services.
Source: Facebook
Ablakwa noted that Ghana Airports Company Limited earned $10 per test, while Frontier reportedly generated significant revenue throughout the contract.
At one point, the Ghana Airport Company Limited was fined GH¢200,000 over its failure to release the contract details with Frontiers Healthcare Services.
The fine was slapped on the company by the Right to Information Commission after the company failed to heed its directive for the release of the contract details.
About the murky frontiers deal
Frontiers Healthcare Services' murky contract with the state-owned aviation company to oversee COVID-19 testing at the Kotoka International Airport was the subject of public debate during the pandemic.
At the height of the debate last year, Frontiers was alleged to have made a profit of more than $130 million unduly and in breach of the Ghanaian constitution.
Coming under the Right to Information Law, local media outlet, Joy News then requested access to the contract between the Airport Company and Frontiers Healthcare Services to, among other things, clear up the controversy.
Speaking exclusively to YEN.com.gh, Dr Bright Tato Forkuo, an NDC communicator, shared his reaction to businessman Ibrahim Mahama stepping in to intervene and restore calm and the show of gap in social welfare or public trust in state support.
Ibrahim Mahama’s intervention highlights a significant gap in Ghana’s social welfare system and reflects a growing public mistrust in the state's ability to support vulnerable individuals. When citizens feel the need to stage public protests near national landmarks just to be heard—and private individuals are the ones stepping in to offer relief—it signals a deeper systemic failure. He said.
While Ibrahim Mahama's act of compassion is commendable, it also raises serious questions about the effectiveness and reach of government social protection policies. He added.
Jakpa leads tour of the counterfeit operation
YEN.com.gh also recently reported that National Security detailed the discovery of official Bank of Ghana cash boxes at the centre of a massive counterfeiting operation in Sapeiman.
The Sapeiman bust took place in February and unearthed a large-scale forgery ring operating behind a seemingly abandoned building disguised as a local battery-charging shop.
With Ghana aiming to cleanse its image, security operatives uncovered 10 40-foot containers filled with counterfeit cedi and US dollar notes. The team also discovered fake gold bars.
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Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Delali Adogla-Bessa (Head of Current Affairs and Politics Desk) Delali Adogla-Bessa is a Current Affairs Editor with YEN.com.gh. Delali previously worked as a freelance journalist in Ghana and has over seven years of experience in media, primarily with Citi FM, Equal Times, Ubuntu Times. Delali also volunteers with the Ghana Institute of Language Literacy and Bible Translation, where he documents efforts to preserve local languages. He graduated from the University of Ghana in 2014 with a BA in Information Studies. Email: delali.adogla-bessa@yen.com.gh.
Bruce Douglas (Senior Copyeditor) Bruce Douglas has 13 years of experience in community media, including coverage of sports, human interest, crime and politics.
