Accra, May 22, GNA - We reproduce below a release from the Ministry of Information purported to have been signed by Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Information:

"GOV'T HAS NO DEALING WITH YAHUDA SECURITY

Government says its attention has been drawn to a false Ghana News Agency (GNA) report that a UK security firm would be assisting its security agencies in a number of areas including international trade in drugs and armed robbery with possible links to terrorism.

"A statement from the Ministry of Information denied the claims, explaining that neither government nor its national security agencies are engaged in any arranged meetings with the said company.

"It is very clear from our investigations that officials of the said company, Yahuda Security Management Consulting, went to the offices of the GNA where they were granted an interview on their supposed business interests. The GNA story's linkage to the President, John Atta Mills' recent UK trip and the claim that they are here to assist national security agencies seem to have created the wrong impression that they were here on the invitation of government" the statement added. "While a number of businesses operating in the security sector come and request to introduce their services and products, government has not received or confirmed any meetings between its top security heads and the said company.

The statement cautioned that while "government will continue to welcome investors and businesses into the country, situations like the Yahuda Security one will not be tolerated."

"Government also appealed to the media to endeavour to clarify issues, especially those that bother on security, with it in order to avoid embarrassments of this nature.

The GNA had reported on Tuesday 19 May 2009: "Government's efforts at fighting the narcotic drug menace and illegal armed trafficking received a boost on Tuesday as officials of Yahuda Security Management Consulting, a top United Kingdom security firm arrived in Accra to assist national security agencies.

"They would discuss with national security officials wide-ranging security matters, international trade in drugs including cocaine, illegal arms, armed robbery and links to possible terrorism. "In an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra, Ms Cynthia Mensa said Senior Directors of Yahuda Security Consulting, said the visit was initiated by the recent visit of President John Evans Atta Mills to the UK.

"'Officials of Yahuda were inspired by the humility and commitment of President Mills' team during interaction with the Ghanaian community in UK and keen to assist the government in whatever way possible to prevent Ghana from descending into a hub of the international trade in hard drugs and related items,' Ms Mensa stated.

"In a related development, Dr Ebenezer Tetteh, Chief Executive Officer of Yahuda Security Management Consulting in a statement to Ghana News Agency said areas of particular interest were realistic optimisation of airport and coastal security, protection of sensitive strategic installations, stemming the tide of the drugs trade and prevention of terrorism.

"He said: 'It is unacceptable that Ghana, a beacon of African democracy, should degenerate into a superhighway for international cocaine trade," stressing that wherever the trade have flourished, serious crime and proliferation of illegal arms, armed robberies, car hijacking and terrorist activity emerged.

"'It would be a tragedy to allow Ghana's respectable international image to be permanently damaged by this extremely worrying development with serious implications for the millions of law-abiding citizens'. "Dr Tetteh noted that although the nation's image had taken some battering in the past few years as a result of drug trafficking and armed robberies, it was not too late to reserve the trend and re-establish Ghana as a zone that was intolerant of drug trafficking and associated crime.

"As part of the visit, the team would hold high level discussion with officials of the security agencies, explore credible ways for collaboration, and organise a two-day security workshop in Accra." A Ghanaian resident in the UK having read the GNA report reacted and GNA carried his reaction on Thursday 21 May 2009

"A Ghanaian living in the United Kingdom, Mr Timothy Afful, has questioned the credibility of Yahuda Security Management Consulting, which last Tuesday told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that it was ready to assist the national security agencies in the fight against narcotic drugs.

"'It (Yahuda Security Management Consulting) is not one of the UK's security agencies. This is not true,' he told GNA on Thursday when he called from the UK after reading the story.

"Mr Afful said he was 'deeply concerned' about the report and checked the Companies House of the UK. 'I can tell you that prior to your news report the company did not exist. It was incorporated at UK's Companies House only yesterday (Wednesday).'

"He said he intended going to the registered address of the company on Thursday to question the occupant, adding 'the registered address is a residential flat'.

"Mr Afful is also asking the Ghana High Commission to run a check on the company and advise the Government immediately. "Two officials of Yahuda Securities Management Consulting came to the offices of the GNA on Tuesday and said in an interview that they intended to assist national security agencies in the fight against narcotics.

"They said they would discuss with national security officials wide-ranging security matters, international trade in drugs including cocaine, illegal arms, armed robbery and links to possible terrorism. "Ms Cynthia Mensa, Senior Director of Yahuda Security Consulting; said the offer was initiated during the recent visit of President John Atta Mills to the UK.

"'Officials of Yahuda were inspired by the humility and commitment of President Mills' team during interaction with the Ghanaian community in the UK and keen to assist the Government in whatever way possible to prevent Ghana from descending into a hub of the international trade in hard drugs and related items,' Ms Mensa stated.

"In a related development, Dr Ebenezer Tetteh, Chief Executive Officer of Yahuda Security Management Consulting, in a statement to Ghana News Agency said areas of particular interest were realistic optimisation of airport and coastal security, protection of sensitive strategic installations, stemming the tide of the drugs trade and prevention of terrorism.

"He said: 'It is unacceptable that Ghana, a beacon of African democracy, should degenerate into a superhighway for international cocaine trade.'

"Dr Tetteh said wherever the trade had flourished, serious crime and proliferation of illegal arms; armed robberies; car hijacking and terrorist activity emerged. "'It would be a tragedy to allow Ghana's respectable international image to be permanently damaged by this extremely worrying development with serious implications for the millions of law-abiding citizens,' he said. 22 May 09