What happened at Dr. Addison’s house not a raid, but a legal search — Majority Leader

Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has clarified that the operation carried out by National Security operatives at the residence of former Bank of Ghana (BoG) Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, was a legal search and not a raid.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, March 21, the Bawku Central MP refuted claims, particularly from the Minority caucus, that the action was an unlawful raid.

“I think that law enforcement officers lawfully went there to conduct a search, and it is perfectly lawful. So to use the word ‘raid’ is clearly wrong. I want that deleted from the records that this house describes what happened as a raid,” he stated.

Mr. Ayariga further cautioned against premature conclusions, urging lawmakers to be well-informed before making pronouncements.

“You haven’t looked into it, you don’t know the facts, and you haven’t been properly briefed, yet you are already describing it as a raid. So the clerk should be careful about the expressions used, and that should be deleted,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Minority caucus in Parliament has condemned the operation, calling on President John Dramani Mahama to rein in such actions to protect his legacy.

Addressing a press conference at Parliament House in Accra on Thursday, March 20, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin alleged that the operatives, led by Richard Jakpa, stole money and jewelry from the former BoG Governor’s residence.