The conduct and professionalism of Ghana's intelligence bureau have been called into question following threatening comments made by panelists on an Accra radio station Montie FM.

One after the other, a panel on Joy FM's flagship political discussion program, Newsfile, berated the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for issuing a statement on the Montie FM saga, a statement some critics describe as political and lacking tact and professionalism.

The only member of the panel who was lenient with the BNI was Employment Minister Haruna Iddrisu. He was yet to read the full details of the content of the statement issued by the BNI.  

Background

On June 29, 2016, two panelists on Montie FM, Messers Allistair Nelson and Godwin Ako-Gunn made the headlines with a threat to kill Supreme Court judges sitting on a crucial Voter's Register case brought before them by PNC's Abu Ramadan and one Evans Nimako.

Their comments, which were made a day to the 34th Anniversary of Martyrs Day to mark the abduction and killing of judges in 1982, were roundly condemned by many well meaning individuals, organisations and government.

The BNI after investigating the threat to kill comments issued a statement part of which said the two were only engaging in "needless bravado" and that they were "incapable of killing the judges"

"At the interrogation, the two suspects admitted making those statements and acknowledged that their remarks were regrettable and unfortunate. Further checks by the BNI have however established that the suspects were incapable of carrying out pronouncements but did so in a show of needless bravado," the statement said.

The BNI further went ahead to advice the media to desist from using intemperate language.

But for a contempt charge currently pending at the Supreme Court, which the two panelists, including the host of the show and owner of the station have to answer to, Allistair Nelson and Ako-Gunn would have walked despite the criminal nature of their comments.

Discussing the matter on Newsfile, Editor in Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Spokesperson of NPP flagbearer, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah and Clara Kasser Tee, a law lecturer took turns to indict the BNI's conduct and statement.

First to issue the salvo was Kweku Baako Jnr who described the statement issued by the BNI as a complete "disaster".

He said the form and content of the statement, the procedures used in issuing the statement are "inept" and smacks of incompetence, inexperience of an otherwise professional institution.

He said the fact that the two men in the middle of the saga are NDC functionaries or perceived to be; the fact that he has information that the BNI statement was issued through a minister as well as  an aide at the presidency appear to have given the BNI away as working for government.

"The statement is a disaster; a political statement. The BNI is not entitled to issue political statement," Kweku Baako said.

He said at worse, the BNI could have investigated the matter and communicated its findings to a superior authority who can then choose to do whatever it wants with it.

But for the BNI itself to issue, sign and release a statement of this nature is "inept".

"They have embarrassed the institution. It is a mark of inexperience; the integrity of the BNI has been sacrificed" on the altar of political expediency, Kweku Baako stated.

He cited the alleged kidnapping of the son of ET Mensah in 2000 and stated that in that case, the BNI investigated the matter but issued a confidential memo to the National Security Coordinator who then had to take it up with the political authorities at the time.

Yaw Buabeng Asamoah berated the BNI for attempting to write their own laws on threatening comments.

He argued that the comments made by the two panelists were in themselves criminal in nature and the two need not show any ability to execute the threat before they could be held liable.

He said "whether or not you can commit a crime is immaterial," adding, "the threat of death is the crime." he added.

Clara Kasser Tee agreed entirely with both Kweku Baako and Yaw Buabeng Asamoah saying the threat alone was criminal in nature and not their ability to carry it through.

She said the police do not need a complaint in this case to arrest investigate and prosecute the matter, adding, any official with the Judicial Service can make a complaint if the police is unwilling to act.

Haruna Iddrisu said the BNI statement is only to allay the fear and panic the comments may have created.