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Read By Deputy Minister For Information- James Agyenim Boateng My colleague journalists, ladies and gentlemen... Thank you most sincerely for your presence here this morning, and I recognise that this is quite early. We have called you here this morning to inform you of some developments relating to the invitation extended to the former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo O. Mpiani, by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI). As a responsible government committed to a demonstrable exhibition of the rule of law, and not just rhetoric, we deem it appropriate to give Ghanaians an account of yesterday�s developments. Mr Mpiani, following an invitation extended to him by the BNI last week, decided that he will rather report on Monday this week, but he failed to honour his word. He, in the company of his lawyers responded to the invitation yesterday, Tuesday, at about 11am. Following that, officials of the BNI questioned Mr Mpiani on a wide range of issues including transactions, procurements and contracts relating to Ghana International Airlines (GIA), Ghana@50 Celebrations, the construction of the Presidential Office Complex (Jubilee House) and other deals entered into by the NPP administration between 2001 and 2008. Contrary to the deliberate lies peddled by Messrs. Stephen Asamoah Boateng and Felix Owusu Adjepong, both officials of the former government, Mr Mpiani at all material times during his stay with the BNI, was in the company of his lawyers- Yoni Kulendi, Egbert Faibille Junior and Hamida Nuhu. As we indicated yesterday, Mr Mpiani was not taken to any secret location that his legal team were unaware of or were not present at. The only time he was outside the BNI facilities was when the questioning ended sometime after 10pm yesterday. Mr Mpiani was never detained; he was not arrested and was free to leave after the questioning. Ladies and gentlemen, let me at this point state that the action of some former ministers of the previous administration who besieged the BNI headquarters was irresponsible and must be condemned by all. Wasn�t it shameful to observe that some former ministers of state were banging on the gates of the BNI and cars of innocent Ghanaian road users? Are these actions of a responsible group of people? That action, which would have necessitated a brute use of force if it were an NPP administration, showed great disregard for the law. Ladies and gentlemen, under the Securities and Intelligence Agencies Act, Act 526 of 1996, section 40, the BNI has every right to invite people for interrogation on any matter as and when necessary. Nobody can therefore question the authority of the BNI to invite persons to provide answers to questions on matters under investigation. Government finds it most unfortunate and ironic that persons who claim to believe in the rule of law would rather be seeking to prevent the security agencies from carrying out their lawful mandate. Obviously bent on making mountains out of ant-hills, these NPP officials stooped so low into making claims as captured on Citi FM this morning that they were aware that Mr Mpiani had been killed. That is obviously a big lie because as we all know Mr Mpiani has been home since last night. The NDC and its government wish to assure all Ghanaians, the international community and especially the NPP that it does not have the time to waste on retributive actions. Indeed, many Ghanaians, both home and abroad, will agree that the matters for which Mr Mpiani was invited and questioned are matters of grave national importance and which many Ghanaians demand answers. And the security and investigative agencies would continue to invite and where appropriate arrest persons who must answer questions or clarify issues relating to their investigations. My colleague journalists let me also take this opportunity to condemn in no uncertain terms, the tendency of some media houses to deliberately distort facts even after explanations have been offered. Unfortunately, this is not limited to government alone. In reaction to a claim by some journalists from the Daily Guide that they were arrested and detained by the BNI, I personally spoke on a number of radio stations explaining that two persons were captured by the CCTV cameras outside the immediate precincts of the BNI Headquarters idling around. As a security installation, you can understand that idling or loitering by persons after some monitoring would be picked up. The security officials, after picking up the two persons and searching them realised that they were journalists, one a photo-journalist and from the Daily Guide. The officials then proceeded to inform their superiors about the development, upon which instructions were given for an official to meet and explain to them why they cannot be idling around a sensitive security installation like the BNI headquarters. I am sure that the two gentlemen did not know that the area is on 24-hour CCTV surveillance. Ladies and gentlemen, I explained quite succinctly that the two persons were not detained. Once it was realised that they were journalists, they were made to wait and educated on security installations after which they made to go. This ministry therefore finds it unacceptable that the official website of JoyFM, www.myjoyonline.com would claim that two journalists were detained and I, James Agyenim Boateng, confirmed their detention and added that they were not harassed while in detention. I never said that, and would never say that. The two persons were not detained and as they stated themselves they were advised against loitering around security installations and released. It is also important that these two persons were not picked up as journalists and from the Daily Guide. These facts were known after they were picked up for loitering. Government would like to caution that any attempt by persons or groups to prevent the security agencies from doing their work would not be permitted. We will however continue to ensure that the agencies go about their activities displaying the highest respect and recognition of the rights of the persons it is investigating or questioning. Mr Mpiani�s questioning is not over, and he together with others being questioned and those under investigations would continue to report to the BNI and other agencies. Thank you for joining us this morning.