Asabee's Inlaw disagree over contract

Mr. Asamoah Boateng, Ex-Minister of Information & National Orientation The Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has revealed that the former Minister of Information, Mr. Asamoah Boateng, aka Asabee, whose flight was curtailed on Sunday, were expected to assist in unraveling a contract worth GH¢860.09.
The circumstances surrounding the contract awarded last year was blurred, as it has emerged that it was awarded to a company reportedly owned by the sister of Asabee’s wife, Ms. Irene Lorwia. The latter has, however, denied knowledge of the contract

Mr. Asamoah Boateng told various radio stations in Accra yesterday that the action by the BNI to stop him from traveling was unlawful and illegal, and has indicated his preparedness to engage his lawyers for necessary action to be taken against the BNI.
He had already arranged for hotel accomodation in the UK, and was furious that the security agency had frustrated British Airways from carrying him and his family for the frolic.
Meanwhile, sources at the BNI have told this reporter that the former Information Minister has no right to travel out of the country’s jurisdiction, until he answers questions in relation to the contract.
The former Minister, who is also the immediate past legislator for Mfantsiman West in the Central Region, and is expected to appear before the BNI later this week, said “that was an unlawful detention at the airport and I have spoken to my lawyers, we will be taking legal action,” stressing, “if they want to invite me let them put it into writing and I will honour the invitation…I won’t go there with unknown faces calling me to the BNI.”
Asabee denied ever having prior knowledge of his invitation and stated that he had been planning to travel for some time now. When he was asked whether the former Deputy Minister, Mr. Frank Agyekum, who appeared before the BNI last week, had informed him about the case, he denied knowledge, saying “I have not spoken to Frank Agyekum.”
Mr. Frank Agyekum appeared before the BNI last week, on allegations that the acting Chief Director of the Information Ministry fraudulently signed a letter on behalf of the current Minister, Hon. Zita Okaikoi, on May 29, this year, asking the Finance Ministry to release payment for the contract of GH¢860.9million to Plexiform Venture, a company supposedly owned by Irene Lorwia.
A Deputy Minister for Information, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Joy FM yesterday that Asabee was being “investigated for corruption, conflict of interest and abuse of office”.
He explained that the BNI received tip-off that Asabee, his wife and two children were leaving the country. Based on this information, the BNI moved in to stop him from leaving the country, so that he could answer questions on some contracts the Information Ministry entered into during his tenure of office.
He reminded the former Mfantseman West MP that “his own Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani, and his deputy Frank Agyekum, were invited through telephone conversation. “We will see how that plays out,” he said.
The BNI wants to ensure probity and accountability and entreated all former government appointees to comply accordingly. Many commentators referred to the incident of former official of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr. Hodare Okai, who was pursued by Mr. Asamoah Boateng, when he was a senior Government official, which precipitated series of events that led to Mr. Okae’s loss of job.
Mr. Akoto Ampaw, a renowned human rights lawyer has since been fighting for Mr. Okai’s reinstatement which a court had ordered. Mr. Asamoah Boatengsaid on several radio networks that he would not appear before the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), until he was officially written to.