Addison Home Raid: Jewellery, ¢10k Stolen By Security Operatives- Afenyo-Markin
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin has raised serious concerns about the raid by some members of the National Security in the house of former governor of the Bank of Ghana, Ernest Addison after some belongings allegedly went missing afterwards.
Addressing journalists in Parliament on Thursday, the MP for Effutu Constituency confirmed the search was done under warrant but noted that the approach used undermined democracy.
According to him, the team visited the Roma Ridge residence of Dr Addison in search of a vault containing cash.
The lawmaker alleged that the team ended up stealing some cash and pieces of jewellery belonging to his wife.
“Unfortunately for the Governor, some ¢10,000 on his bed could not be found…They use this opportunity to steal… The Governor’s wife’s earrings and necklaces could not be found. In other words, those operatives stole these earrings and necklaces.”
Recounting how the team stormed the home of the former official he said, “They forced their way, overpowered the security and entered his premises.”
In his view, the team used a Rambo-style approach.
“This Rambo-style approach must cease. This is the first time in the history of our country that a governor of a Central Bank is being subjected to such treatment, very traumatising. In fact at the end of their raid, they could not find anything.
He opined that, “Ghana is a matured democracy and we should do better.”
Justification
Meanwhile, the Deputy Attorney-General, Srem Sai has confirmed his outfit sanctioned the search but argued that it was done in accordance with the rule of law.
“We take responsibility for the search that happened. We want to make it clear that those searches and the mode in which they were done were in accordance with the law. Warrants were procured and used,” he told journalists in Accra on Thursday, March 20.
Criticism
The founding President of local think tank IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, is however questioning the President and the Inspector-General of Police over persons used for the operation and how it was conducted.
“Thieving thugs, supposedly from National Security raided the home of former BoG governor? Mr. President, IGP, what is going on?” he wrote in a Facebook post.
“It is embarrassing for the Majority Leader of the ruling govt to be rendering apologies on behalf of state-sponsored thugs who raid the homes of citizens. In a civilised country, warrants secured are for lawful searches, not to vandalise property, steal food, money and jewellery.”
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
