The lawyer for former Deputy Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has refuted claims that his client, Gifty Oware-Mensah, was invited by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) for questioning.
Speaking on JoyNews’ *PM Express* on Tuesday, March 4, Mr. Awuah stated emphatically that no security agency had reached out to his client regarding any investigation.
“Up until today, she had not been invited by the BNI. No security agency has invited her. I am putting it on record—Gifty Oware, up until today, has not been invited by any security agency,” he stressed.
His remarks come in response to widespread reports suggesting that the NIB was searching for Madam Oware-Mensah following the arrest of former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Kwaku Ohene Djan. Some reports even alleged that she had fled the country to avoid questioning.
To clear any doubts, Mr. Awuah revealed that they proactively wrote to the intelligence agency to confirm her availability, particularly after President Akufo-Addo’s speech in Parliament, which some interpreted as alluding to her alleged disappearance.
“We wrote because, following the arrest of Kwaku Ohene, there were numerous reports that the BNI was looking for her and that she had absconded,” he explained.
Despite not being officially summoned, Madam Oware-Mensah voluntarily returned to Ghana to dispel any misconceptions about her being a flight risk.
“Now, when you put these facts together, would you describe her as a flight risk?” Mr. Awuah questioned.
Regarding comments made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin that she would later appear before the NIB, the lawyer clarified that this was an arrangement aimed at avoiding dramatic arrests that could trigger public outcry.
“The Minority Leader, seeing what had happened to Kwaku Ohene Djan, concluded that the Rambo-style of arrest was unnecessary and could lead to unrest, which would not be beneficial for the work of the BNI,” Mr. Awuah stated.
He further criticized the way information about his client had been handled, expressing concerns about misinformation reaching even the highest levels of government.
“I’m putting it on record that Gifty has not been invited by anybody, so I don’t know who even briefed the president. It’s unfortunate,” he concluded.
