– Vanderpuye Reveals
The National Coordinator for the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has disclosed that the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) suspended a planned operation to arrest the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, following an appeal by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, April 10, Vanderpuye, revealed that the Minority Leader, had appealed to National Security to allow him to personally present Rev. Ntim Fordjour—who also serves as the Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee—at their office by 10:00 a.m. yesterday, Thursday, 10 April.
According to Vanderpuye, the request was granted, prompting the authorities to call off the operation.
“What happened yesterday is not news. The Member of Parliament was not in Parliament at the time the operation was taking place. An invitation through the Speaker is only necessary in the case of a formal summons. The fact that you are a Member of Parliament does not absolve you from arrest; it is merely a privilege that can only be exercised through the Speaker,” he explained.
Vanderpuye, criticised the actions of the Minority at Fordjour’s residence, describing them as unnecessary and theatrical.
“What happened yesterday was pure drama. The Minority Leader asked him whether he had not already agreed with government officials on how to exercise this privilege. He had an agreement with our people that, at any point, if any of his colleagues were required, he would voluntarily present them,” he stated.
“Afenyo-Markin pleaded yesterday that he would present Ntim Fordjour today at 10:00 a.m. That is what led to the suspension of the operation. Otherwise, they would have all spent the night at his house, holding a vigil to prevent National Security from doing its job. But because we are a listening government, we accepted his plea,” Vanderpuye added.
The attempted arrest follows allegations made by Rev. John Ntim Fordjour regarding two suspicious flights that recently landed at Kotoka International Airport under circumstances he suggested might involve drug trafficking and money laundering.
In response, officials from the NIB moved to detain him at his residence, but the Minority Leader’s intervention suspended the operation.
Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, issued a stern warning to the Minority Leader, insisting that he must ensure Ntim Fordjour is presented to the NIB by 10:00 a.m. yesterday, Thursday, 10 April.
Mr Vanderpuye, stated that should Ntim Fordjour fail to comply with the directive, security forces would forcibly remove him from his residence.
The warning followed the attempted arrest by NIB operatives on Wednesday, who stormed Rev. Fordjour’s residence in relation to the allegations of drug trafficking and money laundering involving the two aircraft that landed at Kotoka International Airport.
However, the arrest operation was abruptly halted without an official explanation. New Patriotic Party (NPP) officials and supporters protested the attempted arrest, with many attributing the aborted operation to these demonstrations.
Mr Vanderpuye noted that the Minority Leader and government officials had earlier agreed to an arrangement and emphasised the expectation that the process would proceed without disruption.
Addressing the incident further, Vanderpuye, urged Afenyo-Markin to honour his commitment and ensure Rev. Fordjour’s appearance, insisting that the matter should be resolved in the interest of peace.
“Someone must advise Ntim Fordjour, and I am allowing Afenyo-Markin to utilise the opportunity given to him today. By 10:00 a.m., he must present Ntim Fordjour for questioning,” Vanderpuye asserted.
The DRIP Coordinator, also condemned the actions of several Minority MPs, who gathered at Rev. Fordjour’s residence to resist the operation, describing their behaviour as unruly and disrespectful towards the security services.
“What they did yesterday was inappropriate and a total show of disrespect towards the security agencies. If the Minority Leader fails to present him today, we shall proceed to remove him from his house,” Mr Vanderpuye warned.