'The height of absurdity' — Ayew Afriye slams BNI over invitation of Efya Royal in ‘Ghana Jollof’ probe

The Member of Parliament for Effiduase-Asokore and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Select Committee on Health, Dr Nana Ayew Afriye, has criticised the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI) over its decision to invite New Patriotic Party (NPP) activist Efya Royal in connection with investigations into the identity and whereabouts of anonymous commentator “Ghana Jollof”.

Dr Ayew Afriye described the development as “the height of absurdity”, questioning the basis for inviting the NPP activist when there is no known official connection between her and the anonymous commentator.

“The recent decision by the Bureau of National Investigations, now the National Intelligence Bureau, to invite Efya Royal over the identity and whereabouts of ‘Ghana Jollof’ is, to say the least, the height of absurdity,” he said.

According to the MP, national security intelligence requires precision, sophisticated investigative techniques and rigorous investigations, arguing that involving a political activist simply because she operates within similar political or social circles raises concerns about the effectiveness of the security agency’s approach.

“National security intelligence requires precision, subtle tradecraft, and rigorous investigation. Inviting an activist simply because she operates in similar political or social circles exposes a worrying operational weakness,” Dr Ayew Afriye stated.

He further noted that “Ghana Jollof” had repeatedly indicated during broadcasts that her face had never been published on any public platform, making it difficult for anyone to identify her through sight alone.

“Ghana Jollof has stated repeatedly in her broadcasts that her face has never been published on any public platform. She remains entirely unmasked, meaning even if she were standing right next to an investigator, she could not be identified by sight alone,” he said.

Dr Ayew Afriye said the decision to involve Efya Royal in the investigation risked setting a worrying precedent, particularly if citizens could be drawn into intelligence investigations merely because of their political or social affiliations.

“Dragging an innocent citizen into an intelligence dragnet simply to crowdsource basic investigative work sets a questionable precedent,” he said.

The Effiduase-Asokore MP urged the security agencies to deploy modern investigative tools, including cyber-intelligence and digital forensics, to establish the identity and whereabouts of “Ghana Jollof”.

“If the security agencies are serious about tracking down individuals of interest, the public expects them to leverage modern cyber-intelligence, digital forensics, and standard investigative protocols, not interrogate activists who have no official connection to the subject,” he added.

Dr Ayew Afriye called on the security services to leave Efya Royal out of the matter and conduct the necessary investigations themselves.

“The security services must leave Efya Royal alone and do the actual groundwork required to find ‘Ghana Jollof’ themselves,” he said.

He stressed that intelligence operations of such a sensitive nature must be conducted with professionalism and seriousness, rather than relying on what he described as public fishing expeditions.

“High-stakes national intelligence work demands seriousness, not public fishing expeditions,” Dr Ayew Afriye concluded.