Diplomat Detained For Tearing Up 25,000 Cedis

A 22-year-old American diplomat, Cortez Daiden was on Sunday night stopped from boarding a Ghana Airways flight to Lagos after he tore 25,000 cedis that security officials would not allow him to take with him.

The American did not understand why he would not be allowed to take the money to Lagos. After a hectic argument with aviation security he tore up the money.


He has been detained at the Ghana Immigration Service headquarters in Accra pending investigations.


Dainen told newsmen that he was allowed through customs check point only to be stopped by an aviation security officer who asked that he handed over the 25,000 cedis. He said he refused because the officer was not ready to issue him with a receipt.

He said he thought that as a diplomat he was supposed to enjoy that status and was surprised that the officer asked that he deposited the money with him.


He said he did not know that it was a crime to tear up the money and apologised for it. He said he felt the officer did not work for the money and did not deserve it.