Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye and Rev John Ntim Fordjour
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodio, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has claimed that the only reason the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) did not arrest the Member of Parliament for Assin North, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, on April 9, 2025, was due to a request from Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin.
According to Vanderpuye, Afenyo-Markin convinced the NIB not to arrest Fordjour by pleading that he would present him to them on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Vanderpuye further stated that the press conference held at Ntim Fordjour’s home after the NIB operatives had left was simply an attempt to mislead the public, Channelnews.com reports.
“What happened yesterday was a drama because the Minority Leader asked if he had not already agreed with government officials on how to exercise this right. He had an agreement that, at any point, if any of his people were needed, he would voluntarily present them,” Vanderpuye explained.
“Afenyo-Markin pleaded that he would present Ntim Fordjour today at 10 a.m. That is what led to the abrogation of the operation. Otherwise, they would have spent the night in his house, holding a vigil to prevent National Security from carrying out their duties. And because we are a listening government, we allowed and accepted his plea,” he added.
The former MP clarified that, contrary to some claims, the Assin North legislator could indeed be arrested by NIB operatives because Parliament was not in session at the time.
“What happened yesterday is not news. The Member of Parliament was not in Parliament when the operation took place. The invitation through the Speaker applies only when there is an invitation. The fact that you are a Member of Parliament does not exempt you from arrest, but you do have a privilege that is only exercised through the Speaker,” Vanderpuye explained.
He also warned that if the Minority Leader fails to fulfill his promise, NIB officers will seek out and arrest the Assin North MP.
Background:
Rev John Ntim Fordjour, MP for Assin South and the Minority’s Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, claimed in a press conference on April 1, 2025, that two flights, an air ambulance and a private jet, might have been involved in drug trafficking or money laundering.
He alleged that one of the aircraft, AirMED flight L823AM, landed in Ghana on March 20 and stayed for five days without any record of transporting a patient.
These allegations led President John Dramani Mahama to order security agencies to “immediately and fully collaborate with the honourable Member of Parliament so he provides all necessary information to investigate the allegations and take all action necessary to expose any drug dealing.”
President Mahama also directed all security agencies to work with Rev Ntim Fordjour to investigate the drug trafficking and money laundering claims involving the two suspicious flights at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
He emphasised that Ghana has a zero-tolerance policy for drug trafficking and will not allow the country to be used as a transit or final destination for illicit drugs.
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, NIB officials stormed Ntim Fordjour’s residence to pick him up for questioning regarding his allegations.
However, the officers left the residence without arresting him following the intervention of leading figures of the New Patriotic Party, including Afenyo-Markin.
BAI/MA
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