Cocaine report hits Akufo-Addo’s Minister

The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has recommended to President Akufo-Addo to withdraw George K. Oduro, Member of Parliament (MP) for New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region, who is one of the 54 nominees, who have been designated to various ministerial portfolios.

The advice if taken, would avoid any future embarrassment to the government and the nation as happened in the case of Eric Amoateng, a former MP for Nkoranza North, according to the BNI’s report dated March 2, 2017 and signed by William Akwasi Appiah, the BNI Director.

The Herald’s information is that, Nelson Troy Edward, who was arrested in Geneva – Switzerland, was returning from Atobease in New Edubiase after attending a funeral of the MP’s mother in 2007.

Music producer Goodies, who was arrested in 2008 for carrying drugs and jailed, is also reported to be known friend of the MP and was also at the funeral of the MP’s mother at Atobease in New Edubiase.

Checks on the Parliamentary website by The Herald, revealed the New Edubiase MP as bearing the name George Boahene Oduro, thus creating further doubt as to who exactly the BNI report is talking about, and whether or not the Swiss authorities, cannot be contacted for an accurate and authentic information on the MP, to prevent any embarrassment to the MP.

However, the nominee in question, George Oduro, is said to have multiple names. Among the names are; George Best Oduro, George Kwame Oduro, Kay, and according to the BNI investigative report, he was on May 19, 2008 mentioned as a principal suspect in a cocaine syndicate.

The nominee, known as George K. Oduro, has in several instances mentioned “K” as Kofi, Kwabena, Kwesi, Kwame and Kwadwo.

This suggests that, the New Edubiase MP, might have held multiple passports with names such as George Kofi Oduro, George Kwame Oduro, George Kwesi Oduro, George Kwasi, Oduro and George Kwabena Oduro and George Kojo Oduro and George Kwadwo Oduro.

Insiders suggested his claim that he is not Kwame, but Kofi could be false, and must be properly investigated, including tracking down Nelson Troy Edward, a Ghanaian arrested in Geneva – Switzerland in 2007, with the deadly narcotic substance, cocaine.

The report in part further read that on May 2008, George Kwame Oduro travelling on a Canadian Passport numbered LJ557784 arrived at the Kotoka International Airport aboard Royal Air Maroc.

“He is believed to be an accomplice of Nelson Troy Edward, a Ghanaian arrested in Geneva on July 13, 2007, for possessing 3,014 grams of cocaine. Nelson Troy Edward is reported to have mentioned subject (George Kwame Oduro) as the source of the drug,” the report stated.

The BNI further reported that the investigative Magistrate, who handled the case involving Nelson Troy Edward issued an international arrest warrant for subject’s (George Kwame Oduro) arrest in 2008.

At a Parliamentary sitting on Thursday, April 6, 2017, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, also drew the House’s attention to the nominee whom the BNI has recommended his withdrawal from the list of 54 nominees submitted to the legislature for approval as a deputy Minister-designate for Agriculture.

However, he was ruled out of order by the Speaker after his attention was drawn to the fact that the report before the House did not include the name of the nominee he was referring to.

But the Swiss authorities, have been recommended as a good source to confirm the true identity of the NPP MP allegedly wanted in that country over drug related issues.