Arrest of E. T. Mensah was legal- Malik Yakubu

Alhaji Malik Al-hassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior, said the arrest and detention of Mr Enoch Teye Mensah by the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) was legal and proper.

"As a national security agency, the BNI has the duty to act timeous, decisively and effectively when national security is threatened."

In a statement read by the Minister in Parliament on the arrest of the member for Ningo/Prampram, which has resulted in a four-day boycott of Parliamentary proceedings by the NDC Minority group, he said, "when they acted the way they did in the E. T. Mensah's case, they were only discharging their duty as expected of them".

Explaining the circumstances of the arrest, he said security agencies received intelligence reports, which suggested that the member was involved in activities aimed at inciting the youth of Nima to demonstrate violently during which certain targets including the Nima and Kotobabi Police Stations would be attacked after burial of the victims of last Wednesday Stadium disaster.

"According to intelligence reports, on Thursday, May, 10th 2001, certain persons, who are closely associated with E. T. Mensah were sighted in and around Nima contacting persons of suspicious character in furtherance of their plan to take advantage of the stadium tragedy for political ends."

Alhaji Yakubu said on the same Thursday, when a delegation from Parliament visited victims at the 37 Military Hospital, the member was quoted as telling someone that "our plan is working well" thus adding credence to the earlier intelligence reports.

"Further to this, whilst other members of Parliament were seen sympathizing with victims, Hon. Mensah was seen in conversation with some people among the crowd that had gathered at the hospital, who hailed and mobbed him, in sharp contrast to the prevailing sad atmosphere.

The Interior Minister said the behaviour of the demonstrating youth and the placards they bore on Friday, some of which had the inscription "Death to Kufuor", "We want Rawlings, not Kufuor " gave further credence to reports gathered so far by the security agencies.

Alhaji Yakubu reasoned," if the violent demonstration of the youth was a straightforward expression of anger against the Police, then what was the need for such utterances and inscriptions as appeared on the placards.

"The intelligence reports further indicated that the riots at Nima were to be extended to other places such as the forecourt of Parliament where inter faith ceremony was to be held on Sunday, 13th May 2001."

Alhaji Yakubu said Mr Mensah reported to the BNI with his lawyer, Mr Bram Larbi on Saturday and was interviewed by the Bureau's Director in the presence three officials.

He said the member was kept in the VIP cells initially but had to be confined elsewhere, when it become clear that he had become violent and was obstructing the smooth functioning of the BNI office.

"The honorable member was kept for forty-eight hours, which is within the limits of Article 14 clause 39(b) of the Constitution. He was allowed to contact his lawyer and his wife, whilst he was being held for questioning."

Alhaji Yakubu said the BNI was acting in consonance and within the confines of security and Intelligence Agencies Act of 1996 (Act 526) and section 200 of the Criminal Code of 1960(Act 29).

He refuted allegations made by the NDC Minority that the member's privileges as a Parliamentarian have been breached and that it was politically motivated.

Alhaji Yakubu said, "what happened in the case of E. T. Mensah was done in strict accordance with constitutional and statutory provisions and in the supreme national interest.

Meanwhile, the majority NPP group in Parliament has appealed to boycotting members to reconsider their action.

Papa Owusu Ankoma, the Deputy Majority Leader, told a press conference on Thursday that the best way to address the problem is for the striking members to resume work and officially inform Parliament about their grievances.

"As an institution with laid down rules, regulations and procedures governing its affairs, Parliament is only seized with a matter when it is formally brought to its attention to enable members debate it on the floor of the house and decision taken on it thereafter."