Minister behind upsurge of "419" in Ghana?

Perhaps the biggest and most fascinating news in Ghana today (December 3) is a report carried by the opposition newspaper, “The Ghanaian Democrat) alleging that the infamous 419 scam is linked in the country is linked to a “very powerful minister in the NPP government, who has been using his influence and position to free the perpetrators from facing the full rigours of the law. The paper alleges further that the minister is a drug trafficker himself. It however did not mention the name of the minister but says it would soon come out with the name and other issues.

The minister, according to the Democrat, has wide connections with certain law firms who go to the defence of these criminals. “They do everything in their power to stall their prosecution.”

The Ghanaian Democrat is linked closely to the opposition NDC.

Leading members of the ‘419 scam’ are said to be close friends of the minister in allegedly running a drug trade.

“Following the Democrat publication in the November 12-14 issue, most of the spots or joints they operate in town are folding up,” the paper said, adding “our visit to these centers showed that some of the places have been abandoned while advertisements have been placed on them thus: ‘Stores to let.”

According to the paper, the Police and the Bureau of National Investigations sources have confirmed its latest findings.

It said further that the prominent member of the group, a half-caste, who operates under several names but is popularly called Hans Mayer, is still in BNI cells. His case is yet to be determined in court.

“Frequent telephone calls to our offices by well-meaning Ghanaians on this case is indicative of the interest Ghanaians have in this all-important criminal case.”

“Intelligence sources further averred that the minister, then an opposition Parliamentarian used to meet with some of the criminals now in the full grip of the law,” the paper alleged.

The paper says its investigations into the matter would continue but expressed doubts about the ability of the security agencies to properly arraign the drug barons before a competent court of law saying “the long arms of the drug baron minister is ever present to offer salvation.”