Government explains Fadi Dabbousi's arrest

Deputy Minister of Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu says the arrest of Ghanaian-Lebanese pilot and author Fadi Daboussi was not politically motivated.

The author of “59 Years to Nowhere” and an ardent supporter of opposition Nana Akufo-Addo, was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport upon arrival from a trip over the weekend but has since been granted bail by the BNI that arrested him.

Activists who alerted the world about the arrest of Fadi Dabboussi had no idea of his whereabouts when he was arrested and claimed that his home was ransacked by operatives from the National Security.

Media reports suggested that copies of his book, “59 Years to Nowhere” were confiscated. Speaking on TV3’s New Day Program, Felix Kwakye Ofosu described the arrest as lawful.

“I’m aware that they have made several attempts to question him over this publication but as for the mode of arrest, it is not unlawful”.

He cited some examples including a leading member of the NDC, Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata and the former auditor general Nana Osei Tutu who were both arrested during church service.

“People have even been picked up on planes and arrested in their hideouts so as for where you are arrested, for me it is not material and I don’t see why his mode of arrest is being described as unlawful.

“It is about how you are treated, whether your mode of arrest was violent or you right were violated in anyway but I’m saying that in this instance no such violation has occurred.

“Let there not be falsehood that he was arrested because he made offensive comments and some have even claimed that he was arrested because he published a book but this book was published months ago if I’m not mistaken so it’s not on the basis upon which he was arrested”.

He explained, “He was arrested for these specific allegations relating to the suitability of the president to continue in the office that he is holding, and it is a security matter. There is no person or security in this world that would sit aloof.”

According to him Fadi’s arrest has nothing to do with his political affiliation with the NPP and pleaded with Ghanaians to refrain from bringing in politics.

He however questioned if Fadi would be able to write any of such publications about the Lebanese prime minister and go scot free without being interrogated by the security agencies.