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The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has no intentions of raiding the Nima residence of the leader of the biggest opposition party in Ghana, government has said in a statement.
“I have contacted the BNI about a so-called intended raid of the Nima offices of Mr Akufo-Addo. BNI categorically denies any such intentions and urges the general public to ignore the pranks being played by some individuals to generate artificial tension in the country,” Communication Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah said in a statement.
Government’s denial of any such raid by the BNI follows an alleged raid of the offices of policy think tank, Danquah Institute, by officials of the BNI, as well as an alleged invasion of Mr Akufo-Addo’s security Head’s residence at Weija by police officers on Thursday March 24.
The two purported incidents caused hundreds of NPP supporters to troop to the three-time flagberer’s residence with the intention of protecting him from an intended raid by the BNI, which the party said its intelligence had gathered.
The alleged raids, which the BNI has denied, according to Graphic.com.gh, followed the recent arrest and detention by the BNI, of three South African ex-police officers, brought to Ghana by the NPP to train its members about how to “control crowds,” per the party’s account, even though the BNI insists the three were engaged in activities that threatened the nation’s security.
The three men: Chris Hazis, 54, also known as Major Ahmed Shaik (rtd); WO/Denver Dwayhe Naidu (rtd), 39; and Captain Mlungiseleli Jokani (rtd), 45; were picked up at the El Capitano Hotel at Agona Duakwa in the Central region.
They were said to be training some young people in various security drills, including unarmed combat, weapon handling, VIP protection techniques, and rapid response manoeuvres. They have been charged with false declaration and unlawful training. They were put before court on Thursday March 24. They pleaded guilty and were each granted a GHS20, 000 bail with sureties. The BNI is still holding them despite the bail, a situation that has angered their lawyers.
The NPP has insisted that the three were neither “mercenaries” nor “terrorists” as being alleged by some officials of the NDC, but were experts who were only training bodyguards for Nana Akufo-Addo and his running mate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
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