Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka has staunchly defended the much-debated search of former Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Ernest Addison’s residence, asserting that the operation was lawful and carried out under a valid court warrant.

The search, which took place on Wednesday, 19th March, 2025, has sparked widespread controversy and condemnation, particularly from opposition figures and former central bank officials.

According to reports, approximately 20 armed operatives, led by Richard Jakpa, Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat, stormed Dr Addison’s home at Roman Ridge in Accra. Some of the officers were masked and armed with AK-47 rifles.

The team allegedly disabled the CCTV system before demanding access to supposed “vaults” within the property. Dr Addison is said to have denied the existence of any such vaults or large cash holdings.

Despite their intensive search, the operatives reportedly found neither vaults nor substantial sums of money.

The search party, however, departed with the home’s CCTV monitor and control unit. The incident has drawn harsh criticism from various quarters, with one former central bank official describing the episode as “unprecedented and disturbing”.

In an address to Parliament on Tuesday, 3rd June 2025, Mr Muntaka—who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Asawase—rejected accusations of abuse of power, stating that the raid adhered strictly to legal norms.

“Mr Speaker, prior to the operation, an ex parte search warrant was duly filed before the High Court in Accra on 12th March 2025 and was obtained in accordance with established legal procedures,” he affirmed.

“The search was carried out in strict adherence to due process and in full compliance with the laws of the state. It was meticulously conducted in the presence of the former governor,” the Interior Minister added.