Security analyst Col. Festus Aboagye (Rtd) has described the allegation by the ranking member of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, Rev Ntim Fordjour, that some aircraft landed in the country with suspicious cargo as an April Fool prank.
The phrase “April Fool” refers to an annual custom on the 1st of April that involves practical jokes and hoaxes.
According to Col. Aboagye, if Rev. Ntim Fordjour’s assertion must be believed, he must provide further and better particulars of the intelligence available to him.
“This appears to be an April Fool saga,” he said on the KeyPoints on TV3 on April 12.
The security analyst contended that “the honourable MP, Ranking Member, Defence and Security portfolio, is not an ordinary person on the street. If there is credible threat to the security of this country, I don’t expect anybody of his calibre and stature to go to the media and inform them. The first elements that you want to get in touch with are the security structures of the state- a whole plethora of them, including that portfolio committee of Parliament.
He further noted that “we know that Rev Ntim Fordjour does not work at the Kotoka International Airport, so somebody would have informed him about the goings on. I am asking him today, through this portal, who informed him? Was it one of the security elements -BNI/NIB or was it an external agent? May be a member of the diplomatic community. Who gave him that information?”
Col Aboagye acknowledged that Rev Ntim Fordjour may not disclose his source, but “he needs to give us better particulars of the intelligence and so far, he has been hedging. Indeed, in several instances, he seems to suggest that the state agencies must come and brief him as a member of the portfolio committee. What is intelligence? What exactly was he told?”
It is recalled that Rev Ntim Fordjour, at a press conference, alleged that two aircraft landed at the Kotoka International Airport with suspicious cargo, likely to be cocaine and cash in dollars.
Following his statement, the government’s spokesperson, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, responded, refuting the allegations and describing his comments as false.
He explained that the aircraft landed in the country due to minor technical faults and other legitimate reasons.
President John Mahama subsequently urged the MP for Assin South to collaborate with the security agencies to resolve the issue.
On April 9, National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) officials engaged in a standoff with the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev Ntim Fordjour, in an attempt to effect his arrest.
According to Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the standoff erupted because Rev Fordjour refused to cooperate.
“NIB officials are currently at Ntim Fordjour’s residence. They have an arrest warrant. He refuses to cooperate. They have given him time to cooperate, failing which they will act,” he said.
3news
