Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Henry Kofi Wampah, has denied knowing that his British son-in-law is a fugitive being sought after by the British government.

David Phillip McDermott, 42, was arrested last Friday in Burma Hills in Accra. It was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the officials of the British National Crime Agency (NCA).

McDermott was among Britain's top 10 most wanted fugitives for being behind a 400kg cocaine burst in Tilbury Docks, in Essex, UK, in 2013, worth £70 million. 

The British press, The Mirror Online and the Sun reported that McDermott had been married to the daughter of Dr. Wampah, Ramona Wampah.

McDermott and Ramona have a child together.

According to The Mirror Online “McDermott was living the high life - like an African king - having married Ramona Wampah, daughter of the Governor of Central Bank, Dr Henry Kofi Wampah.”

But in a statement issued and personally signed by the Governor said, "I had only known David McDermott as a worker in the mining sector and has been living in the country with my step-daughter  Ramona”, who he has been married to for the past three years." 

Dr. Wampah added in the statement “Until I received the information about his arrest, I had absolutely no knowledge about David McDermott being a fugitive of the British government."

McDermott is in BNI custody pending an extradition to the United Kingdom. 

 

The statement from the Governor reads:

STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF DAVID MCDERMOTT

I have received news about the arrest of David McDermott, who is married to my step daughter, Ramona, with shock.

David has been known to me as a worker in the mining sector and has been living in the country with Ramona since their marriage some three years ago. 

Until I received information about his arrest, I had absolutely no knowledge about David being a fugitive of the British government. 

Issued by:

Henry A. K. Wampah 
Governor, Bank of Ghana 
March 13, 2016