Parliament of Ghana has confirmed the detention of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong, at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In a statement issued by the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, parliamentary authorities said the matter had officially been brought to the attention of the House and was currently being handled by the leadership of Parliament.
According to the statement, the Rt Hon Speaker and parliamentary leadership are in contact with Ghana’s diplomatic mission in The Hague to gather detailed information surrounding the incident.
“The public will be duly informed appropriately on this matter,” the statement noted.
No official details have yet been released regarding the circumstances of the detention.
Reports from persons close to the MP claim he travelled from Ghana on Saturday evening and arrived in Amsterdam on Sunday morning, where he was allegedly intercepted by security officials before completing immigration procedures.
The development comes after previous allegations linking the lawmaker to suspected financial crimes and human trafficking-related activities, claims he has consistently denied.
Sources behind the allegations claim the MP was previously investigated by US law enforcement agencies over suspected financial crimes connected to an African restaurant and supermarket business in Chicago.
The allegations further suggest the business was allegedly used to move suspected fraudulent funds linked to individuals currently serving prison sentences in the United States.
Additional claims state that the FBI reportedly monitored activities connected to the business for several years following an alleged raid during which several Ghanaian-British women were reportedly arrested in connection with multiple bank accounts allegedly used for fund transfers.
When the allegations first surfaced, Mr. Frimpong dismissed the claims and accused some individuals of deliberately attempting to tarnish his image.
“There are people who ignore all the positive things I have been doing. Instead, they focus on spreading lies and wishing me ill,” he previously stated.
