Ghana: Information on whether the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) is waging war on Ghanaian exiles

According to a Ghanaian professor of political science and specialist in African politics at Bennet College in Greensboro, North Carolina, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) was an instrument of state repression under the government of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) (17 Mar. 1994). It existed clandestinely and the erstwhile government used it to intimidate its opponents. The professor stated that, according to rumours, the BNI was monitoring the activities of the PNDC government's critics in Ghana and abroad. To validate that point, the professor noted that some Ghanaian overseas residents, and known critics of the PNDC government, arrived unannounced at Accra airport only to be met by members of the BNI. According to the source, such incidents reveal that someone was clearly observing the movements abroad of these critics. For an example of an incident involving an arrival (not an exile) at Accra airport and the BNI, please refer to the attachment.

The professor explained that with the coming into effect of constitutional and multi-party parliamentary government in Ghana, the BNI has adopted a more "genteel" image. It has distanced itself from its previously apparent pre-occupation with overseeing the activities of the government's opponents. Since last year, the BNI has become involved in the investigation of fraud and other criminal activities by individuals (ibid.).

A representative of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights in New York corroborated this information on the BNI as a government tool for the intimidation and harassment of the PNDC's critics (18 Mar. 1994). He did not think that the BNI is still pursuing government critics abroad. His analysis of the situation was that once government opponents have left the country, they are no longer considered a threat. As a result, the BNI may not find it necessary to interest itself in the activities of these individuals.

A Ghanaian journalist with the New African Magazine in London stated that the PNDC generally left Ghanaian nationals abroad alone and that the BNI was not waging war on them (18 Mar. 1994). However, he stated that the only Ghanaian exiles in whose activities the BNI might have been interested, during the PNDC administration, were those in cities with large Ghanaian populations very close to Ghana (18 Mar. 1994). He gave the examples of Lomé in Togo, Ouagadougou in Burkina Fasso, Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire and Lagos in Nigeria. He attributed this unusual BNI activity there to the fact that there were BNI operatives stationed in the four countries. Because of the geographical proximity of these countries to Ghana, Ghanaian political exiles in those countries were considered a threat equal to those remaining in Ghana. Like those within Ghana, political exiles in these countries were too close to Ghana for the government's comfort (ibid.).

According to the journalist, the other Ghanaian exiles the BNI might have believed it necessary to know about were high profile Ghanaian opposition politicians and journalists in London. London also has a large Ghanaian population. The source stated that, during the PNDC era, he was contacted a few times by a Ghanaian mission official. The purpose was to enquire about the activities of some particular Ghanaian opposition politicians in London. He stated that since he did not cooperate, the official stopped contacting him.

He went on to say that, unlike many African governments, the PNDC government could be given credit for not making an intensive effort to pursue political opponents outside of its borders. He added that because of a column he had written on Ghana in New African Magazine, the magazine was banned in that country from 1988 to 1992. According him, the magazine has been allowed into Ghana since 1992. The source was fairly certain that the BNI does not pursue Ghanaian exiles, today.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Bennet College, Greensboro, North Carolina. 17 March 1994. Telephone interview with professor of political science and specialist in African politics.

Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, New York. 18 March 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

New African Magazine [London]. 18 March 1994. Telephone interview with journalist.

Attachment

Inter Press Service. 15 March 1991. "Ghana: Pro-Democracy Advocate Detained." (NEXIS)