Ghana’s Minority in Parliament has demanded that the government provide a full account of the staggering gold and cash seizure made by National Security in February.
The operation, which uncovered 12 containers filled with gold bars and an undisclosed amount of U.S. dollars and Ghanaian cedis, has left the public in the dark, raising serious questions about the government’s handling of the matter.
At a press conference, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, spoke on behalf of the Minority, emphasizing the public’s right to know the details of the operation, which he described as involving assets worth billions of dollars.
He said “This operation has captured the attention of the nation and beyond. The Ghanaian people deserve to know the truth how much was seized, who is behind it, and what the government plans to do with these assets”.
The seizure, which took place in Sapeiman in the Ga West Municipality in Greater Accra, was a dramatic operation that revealed not only gold bars but also counterfeit currency and fake Ghana Army uniforms concealed in wooden boxes filled with cement and charcoal.
Despite the operation’s high-profile nature and the potential implications for national security, nearly two months have passed without any updates from National Security or the government.
“It is utterly unacceptable that, after all this time, we still don’t know the exact quantity of gold or the specific amount of cash seized,” Rev. Fordjour stated, his voice ringing with frustration.
The Minority has raised alarm over the government’s intentions for the seized assets, which remain under National Security’s custody.
“We, the Mighty Minority, demand transparency and accountability”
“The Ghanaian people have a legitimate question: Does the government intend to divert the 12 containers filled with gold and cash, only to later claim the gold is fake and the cash counterfeit?”, he questioned.
The Minority has vowed to keep the pressure on until the government provides a full and transparent account of the investigation’s findings and plans for the seized assets.
“We assure the public that the mighty minority will not rest until we get answers,” Rev. Fordjour noted.
Background
The National Security in February said it has made a huge bust, seizing a large, unspecified amount of US dollars and Ghana cedis, including counterfeits, hidden in twelve 20ft shipping containers.
The containers, according to National Security were tracked to a warehouse around Sapeiman in the Ga West Municipality in Greater Accra, where a special late-night operation was conducted on Saturday following a tip-off.
The concealed currency, mostly bundles of US dollars, was found in wooden boxes covered with cement.
When other boxes were opened in the warehouse during the sting operation, additional currencies, suspected to be counterfeit, were discovered stashed in the boxes, which were sealed with plywood and covered with charcoal.
National Security operatives involved in the operation disclosed that two containers were still unaccounted for but were being tracked.
Videos and photos from the scene have since been shared by the National Security operatives.
Although suspects linked to it are said to be currently on the run, a manhunt is underway for four individuals, including the suspected ringleader, known for now as Alhaji.
Other items retrieved from the warehouse included boxes of metals suspected to be gold bars, counterfeit Ghana cedi notes in 50 and 100 denominations, and fake Ghana Army uniforms and boots.
Source : www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
