Mysterious Disappearance of MP

... Government Remains Silent
... Parliament?s leadership fails to make contact
... MP is a chief in a suburb of Nkoranza
Hon. Eric Amoateng, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkoranza North, who went missing over ten-days ago has still not been found.

It has now been confirmed that he was last seen in Ghana, at the Kotoka international airport, on November 10, boarding a flight for New York. Checks at the major airports in NY could not confirm if he did indeed arrive at his destination.

The New Patriotic Party MP took a leave of absence from parliament, although permission was not granted, and has not been seen or heard from since. Mr. Amoateng failed to attend a single parliamentary session in the past two weeks.

At the time of writing, the rumor mill is grinding away with talk that Hon. Amoateng is one of two men arrested last week for drug trafficking in New York. The arrest was in connection with the seizure of 360 pounds (~ 160kg) of heroine, with a street value of about $6 million (?5.5 trillion), which were stashed in pottery products imported into the United States(US) from Ghana through the United Kingdom.

The arrested man, Eric Amoateng, bears the same name as the missing MP. However, there is an age discrepancy. The arrested man is reported to be 56, while the MP is believed to be four years younger.

However, the continuous silence from the MP and the government is gradually making the report of his arrest believable.

Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Majority Chief Whip, told a local radio station - JoyFM - that its been impossible for the leadership of Parliament to contact the Nkoranza MP.

A couple of local FM stations in Accra have already put out the news that officials of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) have confirmed that one of two Ghanaians arrested last week for drug trafficking in New York is a ?prominent government official? .

The government of Ghana has so far remained silent on the issue, although the FBI is reported to have informed her of the arrest of a ?top government official?.

According to an unconfirmed source, a government delegation left Accra last night for New York to check on Hon. Amoateng. The delegation was made up of Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs and the Deputy Director of BNI.

The minister for Information, Hon. Dan Botchwey, was expected in London last night, on a trip unrelated to the ?disappearance? of the MP. However, he?s expected to shed light on the situation at a reception to be held for him at the Ghana embassy on Tuesday.

A check at the MP?s residence in Accra, confirmed he?s not been home in a while. However, his car was seen parked outside the house. Most people living in the neighborhood did not know the MP or refused to talk.

A check at Nkoranza, in the Brong Ahafo region, where the MP hails from, has so far yielded mixed results.

On Sunday, a member of the MPs party, who did not want to be identified, said ??he has been arrested in America, but I think he?s innocent. He is a very good man and will not do such a thing?

When pressed to explain what ?such a thing? meant, he put his index finger on his lip and walked away.

Earlier on Saturday, a lady who claimed to be a member of the MP?s family told our correspondent that the MP was in Accra, but another member claimed he?d traveled abroad and was OK.

A Sunyani radio station is trying to get more information.

Hon. Eric Amoateng, 52, is married with six children. He attended the University of Ghana where he graduated with a Diploma in Religion. He?s worked as a marketing manager of Koajay Company Limited and also as the District Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation, NADMO at Nkoranza.

In parliament, he is a member of the parliamentary select committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as well as a member of the House Committee. He has since his assumption of office as MP, not made a single contribution on the floor.

Mr. Amoateng is also a chief in a suburb of Nkoranza.

The search continues ?

... Government Remains Silent
... Parliament?s leadership fails to make contact
... MP is a chief in a suburb of Nkoranza
Hon. Eric Amoateng, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkoranza North, who went missing over ten-days ago has still not been found.

It has now been confirmed that he was last seen in Ghana, at the Kotoka international airport, on November 10, boarding a flight for New York. Checks at the major airports in NY could not confirm if he did indeed arrive at his destination.

The New Patriotic Party MP took a leave of absence from parliament, although permission was not granted, and has not been seen or heard from since. Mr. Amoateng failed to attend a single parliamentary session in the past two weeks.

At the time of writing, the rumor mill is grinding away with talk that Hon. Amoateng is one of two men arrested last week for drug trafficking in New York. The arrest was in connection with the seizure of 360 pounds (~ 160kg) of heroine, with a street value of about $6 million (?5.5 trillion), which were stashed in pottery products imported into the United States(US) from Ghana through the United Kingdom.

The arrested man, Eric Amoateng, bears the same name as the missing MP. However, there is an age discrepancy. The arrested man is reported to be 56, while the MP is believed to be four years younger.

However, the continuous silence from the MP and the government is gradually making the report of his arrest believable.

Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Majority Chief Whip, told a local radio station - JoyFM - that its been impossible for the leadership of Parliament to contact the Nkoranza MP.

A couple of local FM stations in Accra have already put out the news that officials of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) have confirmed that one of two Ghanaians arrested last week for drug trafficking in New York is a ?prominent government official? .

The government of Ghana has so far remained silent on the issue, although the FBI is reported to have informed her of the arrest of a ?top government official?.

According to an unconfirmed source, a government delegation left Accra last night for New York to check on Hon. Amoateng. The delegation was made up of Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff and Minister of Presidential Affairs and the Deputy Director of BNI.

The minister for Information, Hon. Dan Botchwey, was expected in London last night, on a trip unrelated to the ?disappearance? of the MP. However, he?s expected to shed light on the situation at a reception to be held for him at the Ghana embassy on Tuesday.

A check at the MP?s residence in Accra, confirmed he?s not been home in a while. However, his car was seen parked outside the house. Most people living in the neighborhood did not know the MP or refused to talk.

A check at Nkoranza, in the Brong Ahafo region, where the MP hails from, has so far yielded mixed results.

On Sunday, a member of the MPs party, who did not want to be identified, said ??he has been arrested in America, but I think he?s innocent. He is a very good man and will not do such a thing?

When pressed to explain what ?such a thing? meant, he put his index finger on his lip and walked away.

Earlier on Saturday, a lady who claimed to be a member of the MP?s family told our correspondent that the MP was in Accra, but another member claimed he?d traveled abroad and was OK.

A Sunyani radio station is trying to get more information.

Hon. Eric Amoateng, 52, is married with six children. He attended the University of Ghana where he graduated with a Diploma in Religion. He?s worked as a marketing manager of Koajay Company Limited and also as the District Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation, NADMO at Nkoranza.

In parliament, he is a member of the parliamentary select committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs as well as a member of the House Committee. He has since his assumption of office as MP, not made a single contribution on the floor.

Mr. Amoateng is also a chief in a suburb of Nkoranza.

The search continues ?