NPP MPs Foil Attempted Arrest of Ntim Fordjour by NIB Officials

• The Minority in Parliament prevented the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) from arresting the MP for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour
• The minority said no formal charges or warrants were presented during the attempted arrest of Fordjour
• Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused the government of intimidation tactics

The Minority in Parliament has scuppered the attempt by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to arrest the MP for Assin South, John Ntim Fordjour.

The minority stormed the residence of Fordjour at Spintex after reports that the security personnel were trying to arrest their caucus member.

The minority insisted that the state operatives did not have a warrant for his arrest during the operation on April 9.

According to the Minority, no formal charges or warrants were presented during the attempted arrest, further deepening suspicions of political interference.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin told the press the attempt to arrest Fordjour was harassment and intimidation.

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He also called the National Investigations Bureau’s actions an attack on parliamentary oversight.

Afenyo-Markin reaffirmed the Minority’s commitment to defending democratic principles and called on the public to stay vigilant and support their efforts to uphold the rule of law.

The Minority has demanded a full explanation from the National Investigations Bureau and called on the Speaker of Parliament to intervene to prevent future attempts to target MPs without due process.

It further called on the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to take urgent steps to ensure that interactions between lawmakers and security agencies are conducted strictly in adherence to constitutional provisions and established parliamentary protocols.

In a memo addressed to the Speaker, the Minority, through its Chief Whip, Frank Annoh Dompreh, expressed concern that the National Investigations Bureau officials acted without regard for the procedures that govern engagements with Members of Parliament.

A political analyst, Reindolph Afrifa-Oware, was also critical of the trend of government action in comments to YEN.com.gh.

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He believes this kind of posturing from the Mahama administration may be misguided.

"If we are to believe in the promise of resetting, we must ask: what law or institution has been strengthened to genuinely protect the people and Ghana's interests in recent months? Instead, we see the rise of failed egos and the seeds of retaliation being sown for future administrations."

Why is John Ntim Fordjour a target?

On April 1, the Minority in Parliament called for updates on some high-profile security incidents, including the gold and cash seizures made by National Security.

Fordjour addressed the press conference and made the claims about the two flights at the Kotoka International Airport, which he suspected were involved in illicit activities.

The legislator further stated that he had it on good authority that the planes had landed at the Kotoka International Airport in March.

The flights, an air ambulance and a private jet, allegedly remained in the country for several days before their departure, raising concerns over their purpose and cargo.

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President John Mahama subsequently directed a probe into the claims made by the Assin South MP.

Mahama assured that his government is committed to urgently addressing the claims.

In later updates, the government insisted that the claims were unfounded and provided evidence that the said planes were not smuggling narcotics.

It said the suspected planes underwent some maintenance after some technical problems like a burst tyre after stopping in Ghana to refuel.

Response from Ghana Airports Company Limited

The Ghana Airports Company Limited also denied allegations that two flights which landed at the Kotoka International Airport were involved in drug trafficking.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 8, the company said it had engaged in a thorough investigation of the matter.

The company outlined the roles of various state agencies involved in aircraft operations at the Kotoka International Airport, and for example, said that landing permits for all incoming aircraft are issued by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and National Security.

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It also noted that Aviation Security and National Security personnel conducted security inspections of the aircraft while Swissport provided ground handling services.

The investigations, according to the Ghana Airports Company Limited, found no evidence of illegal substances on board either of the aircraft.

The company also dismissed suggestions of any involvement by its Managing Director, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, stating unequivocally that she has “never met or had any communication with Rev. Ntim Fordjour.”

Fordjour and government clash over smuggling claims

YEN.com.gh reported that government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu and Fordjour had a war of words over the drug smuggling claims.

Ofosu accused the Assin South MP of lying about an aircraft that landed at the Kotoka International Airport and claimed he had denied the claims in private.

Fordjour responded by calling Ofosu a liar and challenged the government to back its claims with evidence.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh