Former BNI Boss Is Behaving Irresponsibly In Withholding Info On Ya Nas Murder – Kwesi Pratt

Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi, Pratt has hit hard at the former Head of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Mr. Ellis Owusu-Fordjour, accusing him of irresponsibility in withholding evidence relating to the murder of the late overlord of Dagbon Traditional Area, Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II.

Mr. Ellis Owusu-Fordjour, who is currently working as a private legal practitioner, is said to be a key witness. He resigned from his post as a BNI boss following clashes he allegedly had with the then National Security Adviser, General Joshua Hamidu, over the latter’s handling of intelligence reports on the Yendi tragedy, which led to the death of the Ya-Na, and some of his subjects.

Contributing to a panel discussion on PeaceFM’s flagship programme, Kokrokoo, Mr. Pratt stressed that if the former BNI boss has evidence that could aid investigators towards finding the killers of Ya-Na, he should do the best thing by releasing the evidence since it is against the law to hold on to any piece of evidence in a criminal matter.

“If he knows something and he does not want to say so then it is highly irresponsible. Looking at his status, he should not be holding on to information as crucial as this. If he is keeping something that will assist in the investigations he should say it. However, for reasons best known to himself, he claims he cannot talk. For a whole former BNI Boss who is now a lawyer to be doing this; I cannot understand…All of a sudden, Felix Owusu Fordjour has become a superstar again. What does he know and what is preventing him from saying whatever he knows? There is no reason for someone to keep quiet on matters bordering on security which can help in investigations. There is no legal or moral right for him to keep quiet,” he said.

The Insight newspaper Managing Editor said it beats his imagination that the killers of no less a person than the Ya-Na, which occurred in broad daylight, can still not be found.

He added that the security agencies have a responsibility of ensuring that justice is dispensed rightly by getting to the bottom of the matter, and expressed happiness that the President, John Evans Atta Mills, has vowed not to relent in his quest to find the killers and will also appeal against the High Court ruling that acquitted and discharged the 15 suspects.

Mr Pratt also called on the state to use its powers to compel all those who claim to have evidence that could help in finding the perpetrators of the crime to produce them.