General News of Saturday, 4 August 2001

Source: JoyOnline

E. T. Mensah Demands Apology From BNI

The former Youth and Sports Minister and Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Enoch Teye Mensah has asked the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to apologise to him for embarrassing him and his family in the name of true democracy in the country.

This follows a directive from the BNI on Friday, asking him to stop the mandatory reporting to the Bureau since he was released from detention. The directive to stop reporting was communicated to Mr. Mensah through his counsel.

Mr. Mensah had been reporting to the BNI daily for three weeks after he was released from detention. The schedule was reduced to once a week and after several protests, it was further reduced to once monthly.

The BNI, which arrested and detained Mr. Mensah on May 13, for allegedly inciting the youth of Nima to riot has since not charged him. The Nima youth were rioting in the wake of the May 9 Stadium Disaster, which claimed the lives of 129 people.

The BNI and government had explained after the honourable member’s arrest that he was allegedly heard whispering to somebody about inciting people to riot after the disaster. Asked if he will insist on the apology from the security agency, Mr. Mensah said he will not, adding that vengeance is the Lord’s.

Mr. Mensah told JOYFM that the inability of the BNI to substantiate their allegations and charge him in court is enough proof that he was only framed up. Mr. Mensah advised the security agencies to be dispassionate in their investigations.