The lawyer for former Deputy Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has dismissed reports that his client was invited by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) for questioning.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, March 4, Mr. Awuah stated that no security agency had reached out to Gifty Oware-Mensah regarding any investigation.
“Up until today, she had not been invited by the BNI. Up until today, no security agency has invited her. I am putting it on record, Gifty Oware, up until today, has not been invited by any security agency,” he emphasized.
He explained that following the arrest of Kwaku Ohene Djan, a former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), there were widespread reports suggesting that the NIB was searching for Madam Oware-Mensah and that she had absconded.
To clarify the matter, he said they wrote to the intelligence agency to confirm that she had not fled the country.
“We wrote because, following the arrest of Kwaku Ohene, there were a lot of publications that the BNI was looking for her and she had absconded.
“Subsequently, the president went to Parliament to make a similar allusion, although her name was not mentioned. So when we put one and two together, we concluded that all references were to her,” Mr. Awuah explained.
Despite not being officially summoned, he said Madam Oware-Mensah voluntarily returned to Ghana to clear any doubts about her availability.
“Now, when you put these facts together, would you describe her as a flight risk?” he questioned.
Addressing comments made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who stated that Madam Oware-Mensah would later appear before the NIB, Mr. Awuah said the arrangement was meant to prevent unnecessary tensions.
“The Minority Leader, seeing what had happened to Kwaku Ohene Djan, concluded that the Rambo-style of arrest did not engender peace and might lead to protests, which would not augur well for the work of the BNI.
“So he went out of his way to ensure that certain arrangements were made so that people were not picked up in that manner,” Mr. Awuah explained.
He expressed concern over how information about his client had been handled, stating, “I’m putting it on record that Gifty has not been invited by anybody, so I don’t know who even briefed the president. It’s unfortunate.”