Gov�t Embarrassed ...Over Capos� Arrest - Ayikoi Otoo

A former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Joseph Nii Ayikoi Otoo, has said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not breach any law by inviting the three former South African police officers into the country to train the security detail of Nana Akufo Addo and Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.

The three were on Tuesday repatriated to South Africa after being kept in BNI custody for days.

Government and its communicators have widely criticized the NPP for acting irresponsibly.

But in an interview with Citi News, the former Attorney-General, Joseph Nii Ayikio Otto, insisted the NPP did nothing wrong.

“I see nothing untoward about what has happened and they [Government] themselves feel embarrassed, that is why they are sending the people away. If I decide that I want to bring foreigners what is wrong with that?

“We even bring people into this country to come and give us lectures. When we got oil, and wanted to see what we could do with it, didn’t we bring people from Norway and some other places? …This is a global country, we can invite anybody from anywhere to come and do what he wants as long as it is lawful.”

NPP still credible 

One of the lawyers for the three former police officers, Samuel Atta-Akyea, says the credibility of the NPP remains intact despite the party’s disagreement with government over its decision.

The party had been accused by some government officials of unlawfully inviting the men to the country in a bid to undermine the authority of government and national security.

But in an interview with Citi News, Samuel Atta-Akyea, MP for Abuakwa South, indicated that government’s decision to repatriate the men clearly shows that the NPP’s decision was not borne out of bad intentions.

“It is going to underline clearly that they didn’t’ have anything serious against the party…the people who brought this whole farce have backed off so I think we have been vindicated that there was nothing untoward happening…”