Former President Jerry John Rawlings returned home on Wednesday after cutting short his visit to Botswana where he was invited to participate in an international conference organised by Global Coalition for Africa following a report of an attempt on the life of his former aide-de-camp bodyguard in Accra.

A statement from the office of the former President expressed concern about the unexplained attack on Ex-WO 1 Patrick Kuntor last Tuesday October 23.

It said the attack followed a series of other incidents of "intimidation against the Ex-President, his bodyguards and other close colleagues."

"The ex-President's return was due to persistent harassment of his bodyguards which now appeared to have taken a dangerous turn with an attack on Kuntor on October 23," said the statement signed by Dr Tony Aidoo, former Deputy Defence Minister.

The statement said Ex-President Rawlings left the country on October 22, was scheduled to participate in the conference on October 25, and return on October 29.

He cut short the visit due to the attack on Kuntoh.

The statement cited eight cases of arrest and detention of former and current bodyguards of the former President by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).

The cases involved Kuntor who, according to the statement, has been arrested twice and detained without charges.

Ex-WO Daniel Budu, was arrested twice and detained without formal charges and Ex-WO Samuel Mensah was arrested and detained once without formal charges.

The statement said the residences of Ex-Sergeant Amanor and Mensah were searched by the BNI on October 17 without a warrant while Ex-WO Albert Gbafa has been compelled to report to the BNI for the past three months without any charges being preferred against him.

The statement also noted that Mensah was arrested and detained overnight by the BNI two days before he was due to travel with the ex-President to Botswana.

"The October 23 attack on Kuntor clearly highlights the vulnerability of the bodyguards of the former President Rawlings to the apparent threat of their physical elimination."

''Whereas Mr Kuntor was very fortunate indeed to have had a licensed personal weapon with which he not only defended himself but caused his assailants to escape with their wounded colleagues, other bodyguards who by the nature of their duties may face attempts on their lives are unarmed''

The statement called on the appropriate state agents responsible for security to ensure the safety of the Ex-President and his personal bodyguards.