National Democratic Congress (NDC) Women’s Organiser, Anita De Sooso, suffered an embarrassing fate at the Kotoka International Airport on Monday August 4, 2014 when she was prevented from travelling to the United States of America.
Before Anita, who is a Deputy Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), could get on board the Delta Airlines flight to New York, after going through routine check-in procedures, she was accosted by security details at the airport and politely informed that she was not wanted in ‘Uncle Sam’s’ land.
Apparently, a directive had been issued by the US State Department to the airline, banning her from entering that country. So it was only reasonable for officials of Delta Air to inform the airport security about the order from the State Department.
The reason for her trip was not immediately known, but it might not be unconnected with President John Mahama’s 10-day visit to the US.
Security Risk
Anita, DAILY GUIDE learnt, has been declared a potential security risk after she issued threatening messages on a US citizen, Madam Michelle McGowan, who happens to be a nurse and a philanthropist.
It followed a standoff between the two over some Ghanaian children with skin problems, locally referred to as ‘Alligator children’, who Michelle wanted to help get some medical treatment by raising funds to purchase the medication.
Anita De Sooso was reported to have once called Michelle on phone in which she issued the following threats: ‘Hello Michelle, this is Anita again. I was expecting you at the police station, you were not there. So please I’m giving your number to a man working at the Flagstaff House (Presidency) and he will like you to show us the Frances Gyimah that you claim she works here. Thank you. And if you dare not call, we will look for you everywhere that you are because we will not allow you to destroy our dear President’s name; thank you. This is Anita De Sooso’, and she hanged up.
For some strange reason, the philanthropist was later arrested and eventually forced to leave the country on the advice of the American Embassy, to avoid having running issues with the Ghanaian authorities and to save her life.
According to Michelle McGowan, Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, facilitated her arrest and she was eventually thrown out of the country.
No Fly List
This, according to sources, was what compelled Michelle to lodge an official complaint with the US State Department when she returned to America, which made the agency put Anita’s name on the ‘no fly list’ – a list created and maintained by the US government’s Terrorist Screening Centre (TSC) of people who are not permitted to board a commercial aircraft for travel in or out of the United States.
When the NDC woman arrived at the airport on Monday, she was approached by security details who told her they had been given strict instructions not allow her to board the Delta Airlines flight. She was subsequently given a letter to go to the US Embassy in Accra if she had any issue with the directive.
But when the issue came up for discussion on Accra-based Adom Fm yesterday, Anita declined to comment on the matter.
In spite of the seriousness of the subject, she decided to laugh it over, as if nothing of that nature had happened.
She told host of the programme, Captain Smart, in a jocular manner that at the appropriate time she would come out to state her position on the issue.
‘Nana, the person who gave the story to you, call him to give details. I have nothing to say now. At the right time I will talk. Please have patience for me’, she told Captain Smart.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu
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