I am not hiding - Asabee

Former Information Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng Former Information Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng has denied absconding, describing the BNI’s suggestion he had gone into hiding as mischievous and misleading. He accused the Bureau of National Investigations of deliberately creating the impression he had run into hiding in an attempt to justify its abuse of his rights when it stopped him from travelling. Sources at the BNI told Joy News efforts to reach Mr Asamoah Boateng had failed. The sources indicated the former Information Minister was being sought by the Bureau to serve him with summons but could not reach him. According to the sources, Asabee was thus on the wanted list of the national investigative body. But speaking to Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Tuesday morning, Asabee said the BNI knew where to locate him if indeed they needed him. He alleged that a number of security personnel went to the residence of his mother-in-law under the pretext of looking for him, with some of them scaling walls all to frighten the household. He questioned the justification for officials of the Bureau to go to his mother-in-law’s residence when they knew he does not live there. According to him, he gave two addresses to the BNI – one in Accra, and the other in his village – and that the BNI did not even look for him at the Accra residence. Instead they went banging on the door of his mother-in-law and thereafter started spreading rumours that he had absconded. Asamoah Boateng, who says he is currently in his village participating in social activities including attending funerals, explained that when he heard news about his alleged absconding, he drove to the Saltpond BNI officer and police commander to present himself to them and to prove he was not hiding as was being suggested by the BNI in Accra. Describing himself as a decent, law abiding citizen, Mr Asamoah Boateng advised the BNI to stop spreading false information about him and find a decent way of serving him with whatever processes so he will respond appropriately. Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline/Ghana