BNI Director Ordered Us To Prevent Asamoah Boateng

An official of the Bureau of National Investigations at the Kotoka International Airport, Nana Kwame Osei, yesterday (Tuesday, 25th August, 2009) told an Accra Circuit Court, that the Acting Director of BNI, Edward Yaw Donkor, ordered them to stop former Information Minister, Asamoah Boateng, from traveling out of the country. He said they received directives from Mr Yaw Donkor that Asamoah Boateng, his wife and children will be leaving the country on the 14 of June 2009 and that they should used any means to prevent Mr Asamoah Boateng from going out of the country. Nana Osei Kwame disclosed this during cross examination by counsel for Zuleika Asamoah Boateng who is facing trial for assaulting, insulting and forcible collection of Mr Asamoah Boateng’s passport from a public officer. The witness, however, admitted that he had no arrest warrant to execute that directive and pointed out that, seizing Asamoah Boateng's passport was the only option he had to prevent him from traveling. He said Mrs Asamoah Boateng pounced on him, squeezed his neck and twisted his left arm before snatching the passport from him while his other colleagues were checking other passengers. Counsel for Zuleika Asamoah Boateng, Nene Amegachater suggested to the prosecution witness that the seizure of Asamoah Boateng’s passport prompted the disagreement with the BNI officials at the Airport to which the witness replied in the affirmative. When asked whether he is aware that the laws of Ghana guarantee free movement of persons and that, that movement can only be prevented by due process, he replied in the negative and stressed that he was only acting under instructions by the BNI Director, Yaw Donkor, who had assigned him to ensure that Asamoah Boateng did not travel out of the country. The prosecution witness also stated that he never saw Asamoah Boateng holding any baby when he tried to carry out his boss' orders and also denied that he was carrying a bag containing food meant for the baby. The case, presided over by Madam Ajoa Coleman, has been adjourned to today (Wednesday, 26th August, 2009). By: Obeng Manu/peacefmonline