"Sucide Bomber" is Not Ghanaian?

The man with a Ghanaian name, Manfo Kwaku Asiedu facing trial alongside five others in London for planning suicide bombings on London's public transport system on 21 July 2005, is said to be using fictitious name. The Woolwich Crown Court sitting in Belmash London heard when the case was opened this week. Prosecutor, Lawyer Nigel Sweeney told the 12-man jury “Manfo Kwaku Asiedu is not the defendant's real name”.

BBC reports also have it that Asiedu 33, who has no fixed address in London, arrived in the country (UK) from Ghana in 2003 on a valid visa on a Ghanaian passport bearing the name George Nanak Marquaye.


For some time, ‘Asiedu’ whose real name the prosecution think is Sumaila Abubakari, stayed with one of the defendants, Yassin Omar, in North London where they conspire to manufacture bombs for attempted destruction of property and human life in London.


He later found a place on his own in Finchley in London with particulars of ‘Asiedu.’ The prosecution is however not certain of “Asiedu”s’ original nationality.


Mr ‘Aseidu’ is said to have embarked on a camping with one of the defendants to Scotland in 2004.


He was identified as dumping his bomb in a wooded area after he had "lost his nerve at the last moment" in Little Wormwood scrubs, which was found two days later. The prosecution told the jury.


It would be recalled that when the issue came up in July 2005, there were many views especially in the media about the nationality and the parenthood of Asiedu in the Ghanaian media.

Upon investigation, by this reporter, the real Manfo Asiedu was spotted in Watford, 30 miles outside London. The real Asiedu in Watford happens to be the son of the deputy Inspector General of Police in Ghana, Dr K.K. Manfo. The real Asiedu expressed dismay and shock about his association with what he described as atrocious act in July 2005 in an interview with this reporter.


He said he would never dream of indulging in such an awful act, let alone taking part.


He said apart from putting himself in a knotty and shameful situation, he would have brought the good name of Ghana and, indeed, the rich and enviable reputation of his father and family in the mud, if he indeed did what was associated with his name.


Manfo, whose family members described as gentle, humble, kind and sympathetic, said he thought it was an issue of a name crash, but when later the focus dwelled on him he became terrified and started to panic, especially when his father’s name was attached to the incident.


The case against Muktar Said Ibrahim, Hussain Osman, Yassin Omar, Ramzi Mohammed, Adel Yahya, and Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, which started on Monday, is expected to last for four months.


They are charged with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions on 21 July 2005.