The Minister for Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, has been summoned to appear before Parliament to provide details on the alleged raid on the residence of Dr. Ernest Addison, a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana.
The raid, which occurred on Wednesday, March 19, has sparked widespread outrage and concerns about due process and the motives behind the operation.
According to eyewitness accounts, a team of heavily armed National Security operatives, numbering around 20, stormed Dr. Addison’s Roman Ridge home, disabling the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system before conducting a thorough search of the premises.
The operatives, allegedly led by Richard Jakpa, Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat, were reportedly wearing balaclavas and wielding AK-47 semi-automatic rifles.
The security personnel allegedly demanded that Dr. Addison lead them to the “vaults” in his house, but he informed them that he had no vaults or cache of cash at home.
Despite this, the operatives allegedly ransacked the house, eventually leaving with the CCTV monitor and control unit. No vaults were found, and no large amounts of cash were discovered.
The raid has been widely condemned, with many questioning the legality and justification for the operation. Members of Parliament (MPs), particularly from the New Patriotic Party Minority Caucus, have called for full disclosure on the circumstances surrounding the raid.
The Interior Minister’s appearance before Parliament is expected to provide clarity on the matter.
In a statement, Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, defended the operation, saying it was not a raid but rather a properly executed search warrant carried out in accordance with the law.
“Mr. Speaker, law enforcement officers lawfully went there to conduct a search, and it is perfectly lawful. And so, using the word raid is clearly wrong,” he said.
However, the opposition has expressed skepticism about the government’s claims, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.
The Interior Minister’s appearance before Parliament is expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the raid.
Dr. Addison, his wife, and their family are reportedly traumatized following the raid.
-BY Issah Olegor
