On April 10, 2025, Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Africa and a legal practitioner, condemned the actions of armed masked officers violating private homes under the pretense of making an arrest. Speaking on Joy News, Bentil emphasized that such actions are illegal and could be considered kidnapping, urging citizens to defend themselves, even with firearms if necessary.
Bentil’s remarks were prompted by a recent incident where masked officers, believed to be part of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), attempted to arrest the Assin South MP, Rev Ntim Fordjour, without a warrant. As the Minority’s Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, Fordjour’s legal and human rights were violated according to Bentil, who strongly condemned these tactics.
Highlighting citizens’ rights, Bentil noted, “You have the right to protect yourself, your family, and your property if someone unlawfully breaches your rights. Article 14 of the constitution gives you the right to defend yourself, even with firearms, against unauthorized intrusions.”
In a social media post, Bentil reiterated that resisting arrest by masked individuals is legally permissible: “A masked person trying to arrest you might be a kidnapper. You have the right to defend yourself, including using deadly force.”
The attempted arrest of Fordjour was thwarted when Minority members of Parliament and New Patriotic Party (NPP) leaders intervened at his home. This event unfolded after Fordjour alleged during an April 1 press conference that two aircraft, an air ambulance and a private jet, might have been involved in drug trafficking or money laundering operations.
President John Dramani Mahama responded to these claims by instructing all security agencies to cooperate fully with Fordjour to investigate these allegations, reaffirming Ghana’s zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking.
Source: https://www.ghanaweb.com/
