General News of Tuesday, 15 August 2006

Source: Accra Mail

MP Wades Into Drugs Inquiry

The MP for Assin North, Mr Kennedy Agyepong has called for the detention of Rojo Mettle-Nunoo for dealing with the Venezuelan drug baron currently at large. He said: "If the four dealers were arrested based on suspicion, then Rojo Mettel-Nunoo should also be arrested based on suspicion".

He registered his "hundred per cent" agreement and support for the President's statement last Saturday on Mettle-Nunoo's association with the drug barons, because "the President has every right to say what he said".

He surmised that Inspector General of Police, Patrick Acheampong was not informed about the meeting of drug barons in the house of ACP Kofi Boakye, the Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service.

Even though the IGP testified in camera at the Georgina Wood Committee investigating the missing cocaine on Monday, the MP who claimed to be privy to some untold information about the missing cocaine gave the clue yesterday on a local radio station in Accra.

"He is not aware. Kofi Boakye did not tell him anything. He only told him when he (IGP) was in Germany and that was what he said yesterday (Monday)". He said: "So I am saying that you people don't judge Kofi Boakye, don't judge the drug dealers, don't judge anybody, let the Committee deal with these people."

ACP Kofi Boakye who has been asked to proceed on leave had told the Committee that he informed the IGP about the meeting in his house and reported the outcome to the IGP and the Minister of Security. The IGP has since kept tight lips about it, but stated in a press conference early this month that "there is nothing wrong having the meeting in his house".

Mr Kennedy Agyepong took swipes at the media for launching unfair and excessive attacks on the Police Service, leaving other security agencies like the Navy, the Airforce and the Narcotic Control Board for their inability to execute their duties to apprehend the cocaine couriers.

The MP said that the President, John Agyekum Kufuor did not receive the recorded tape about the meeting of ACP Kofi Boakye and the four drug barons.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), Mr. Emmanuel Agyarko has told the Committee that he handed over a copy of the tape to the President. He noted that the President should not be expected to come public with the content of the tape even if it is true that he had the tape and insisted "I know he did not get the tape".

He however, appealed to the media and the general public to remove political parties from the ongoing inquiries and deal with the individuals involved based on their guilt or otherwise. That, he said would help establish the truth.