Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai, has defended the controversial National Security raid on the residence of former Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, emphasizing that it was carried out within legal boundaries.
The operation, which took place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, has sparked heated political debate, with the Minority in Parliament condemning it as an act of intimidation against former government officials. The raid on Dr. Addison’s home followed a similar search at the residence of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on February 11, 2025. On the same day as Dr. Addison’s raid, journalist Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah was also reportedly arrested and later released.
Addressing journalists in Accra on Thursday, March 20, Justice Srem-Sai stated that the searches were lawful and authorized by a warrant.
“We take responsibility for the search that happened. We want to make it clear that those searches and the mode in which they were done were in accordance with the law. Warrants were procured and used,” he asserted.
His remarks come amid rising concerns over the use of state security agencies to target former officials, with opposition figures describing it as a politically motivated clampdown.
The Minority Caucus has strongly opposed these raids, arguing that they are part of a broader pattern of harassment against former appointees of the previous administration. Some civil society organizations have also questioned whether these security actions are genuinely legal investigations or a misuse of state power for political gains.
As debates intensify, there are growing calls for transparency and accountability in the operations of National Security and other state agencies to ensure that such searches are not weaponized for political purposes.
