‘The FBI interrogates suspects in Ghana but our police can't do same in America?' – Barker-Vormawor asks

Lawyer for Abu Trica, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has questioned the involvement of the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the ongoing investigations involving his client.

According to him, his legal team is yet to gain access to Abu Trica despite formally writing to the Attorney General requesting permission to meet him.

Speaking to the media on July 7, 2026, Barker-Vormawor disclosed that the court has directed the authorities to grant them access by July 9, 2026, warning that the court would intervene if the request is not honoured.

"Till now, we don't know where Abu Trica is being held. We wrote a letter to the Attorney General to allow us to see him, but we've not been granted our request. We informed the judge, and the judge has given them until tomorrow. If they don't allow us to see Abu Trica, the court will intervene,” he said.

While acknowledging that anyone who breaches the law should be held accountable, Barker-Vormawor insisted that the legal process must be followed and expressed concern over the reported involvement of FBI officials in the interrogation of Abu Trica.

He also raised concerns about Ghana's sovereignty, questioning why FBI officers are reportedly allowed to interrogate suspects in Ghana when Ghanaian law enforcement agencies do not enjoy similar privileges in the United States.

"A Ghanaian has gone against the law, but we just don't like how they're handling the issue. FBI are all over this country. When Abu Trica was arrested, it was the FBI who went to interrogate him in the cell. Can Ghana Police go abroad and interrogate someone there?” he asked.

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The lawyer stressed that his interest in the matter goes beyond his client, describing it as a fight to protect the country's legal system and sovereignty.

"I didn't know Abu Trica from anywhere, but we're all fighting because we want to help the country. No one should even think of Abu Trica. We should all think of the growth of the country,” he stated.

Barker-Vormawor further urged the public to allow the courts to determine the outcome of the case instead of trying it in the media.

"We will only focus on what the court will say. The court is not on the media. No lawyer will tell their clients to go and talk about their case on TV,” he shared.

Touching on the legal proceedings, he explained that his team filed an emergency application, which was heard without prior notice to the Attorney General, in accordance with court procedure.

"The emergency application that we filed, only we came to see the judge. When you file an emergency, even the Attorney General doesn't have the right to know that we're coming. If not for the media to publicise it, no one would have known. When we came, the judge accepted it and asked us to return on July 9, 2026," he added.

@abonten.diaries Lawyer for Abu Trica, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, says he does not know where his client is being held and has asked the court to intervene. He also raised concerns over Ghana’s sovereignty, questioning why the FBI is able to interrogate suspects in Ghana while Ghanaian law enforcement does not have similar powers in the United States. He called for national discussion and condemnation of what he described as an unequal arrangement. #voicesofconcern #abontendiaries ♬ original sound - Abonten Diaries