Ghana’s Interior Minister, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has staunchly defended a controversial armed raid on the residence of former Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Ernest Addison, describing the operation as “lawful” and executed with full legal backing.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Muntaka revealed that the operation, carried out on 19 March 2025, was sanctioned by a High Court search warrant issued a week prior. The warrant, he said, was obtained ex parte on 12 March, and the search was conducted “in full compliance with the laws of the state.”
The early morning raid at Dr Addison’s Roman Ridge residence in Accra involved approximately 20 armed men, some masked and carrying AK-47 rifles. The team, led by Richard Jakpa, Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat, reportedly disabled the property’s CCTV system and demanded access to alleged hidden vaults.
Dr Addison, who was present during the operation, denied the existence of any vaults or large amounts of cash on the premises. The team reportedly left with the home’s CCTV monitor and control unit but found neither vaults nor any significant sums of money.
The raid has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures and former central bank officials, with some calling it “unprecedented and disturbing.”
Despite the backlash, Mr Muntaka maintained the operation was necessary and justified. “The search was meticulously conducted in the presence of the former governor,” he said, emphasising that no laws were broken during the procedure.
Critics, however, remain unconvinced, pointing to the aggressive nature of the raid and questioning the broader implications for rule of law and respect for individual rights in the country.
The government has not disclosed what prompted the search warrant or what specific intelligence led to the operation. Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount for further transparency and a formal inquiry into the conduct of the security personnel involved.
