Gov’t delegation heads to Dubai over NAM1 extradition

A high powered government delegation is en route to Dubai to press for the extradition of CEO of Menzgold, Nana Appiah Mensah.

The delegation includes Deputy Attorney General, Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, a representative from the Economic Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and National Security.

Nana Appiah Mensah, popularly known as NAM1, is wanted for defrauding by false pretence and an allegation of money laundering after his company failed to pay customers investments.

An Accra Circuit Court issued a warrant for his arrest last week but a press release by the police Monday indicates that NAM1 has already been arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital on December 7 after “a gold deal gone wrong.”

The police in the statement also said they have been to Dubai to see the fugitive in custody but failed to tell if it was prior to the arrest being issued on January 13 or after.

The Deputy Attorney General in an interview on Top Story on Joy FM said government is bent on bringing NAM1 to face the law and will not rest until that happens.

He said the delegation’s mission will be to “try to strike a deal with the government of the Emirates to see to the fact that he is brought back to Ghana to face justice.”

He regrets the lack of information concerning the fugitive before the arrest warrant was issued but said government has taken the issue seriously to ensure that justice is served.

“As soon as the information about the arrest in Dubai was put out, a follow up is being done expeditiously and with alacrity to ensure that justice is served,” Mr Kpemka said.

He also added that because Ghana and the UAE share no extradition treaty, the team through law and diplomacy will work to reach an agreement to have NAM1 released.

“We are going to elevate this through law and diplomacy so that we try and get to the bottom of the matter there. If there are no specific charges he is answering in the UAE all will be done within the remits of the law and diplomacy to get him extradited to face justice and to answer to charges that have been proffered against him.”

He stressed government’s commitment to do everything possible to have NAM1 brought to justice, “bringing him back is the most important thing.”

But security analyst and CEO of Security Warehouse Ltd, Adam Bonaa fears that the lack of extradition treaty between Ghana and the UAE may create challenges for the delegation.

For a country where people are jailed for minor offences such as drinking alcohol, he believes that a crime as serious as scamming will carry a lot of weight and doubts if NAM1 will be released to leave the UAE jurisdiction.

“That is where issues are going to be complicated, but I want to believe that at government to government level everything is possible. We have a very friendly relationship with the Emirates and I believe if it is elevated that the security of the country is at risk, they might overlook their own issue and release him,” he said.