Bright Mensah Bonsu Arrested over $1.5m Diplomatic Property Scandal – Foreign Minister Confirms

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has confirmed the arrest of Bright Mensah Bonsu, a central figure in the controversial sale of a prime beachfront diplomatic property belonging to Ghana’s High Commission in Nigeria.

In a statement released on Monday, Ablakwa disclosed that Mensah Bonsu, who allegedly received a cash payment of US$1.5 million in a purported transaction to sell the state property, was apprehended by Ghanaian security operatives.

“We got him!” Ablakwa declared in the strongly worded announcement. He described the arrest as a significant development in a case that has sparked outrage and drawn diplomatic concern from Nigerian authorities.

According to the Minister, Mensah Bonsu claimed to be a “special aide” to the late Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Ghana’s former High Commissioner to Nigeria, who was appointed under the Akufo-Addo administration. However, Ablakwa stressed that Mensah Bonsu was neither a staff member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor officially employed by the Ghana High Commission in Nigeria.

Documents retrieved in the course of the investigation reportedly show that the property was valued at US$5.3 million, and the US$1.5 million was allegedly received as the first installment of the sale. Crucially, Ablakwa noted that the funds were not paid into any official government account, nor was there any record of the transaction at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“This cash was never declared or recorded officially,” he said, suggesting that the 2024 election outcome might have disrupted the full execution of the alleged fraudulent deal.

Authorities are also probing how Mensah Bonsu obtained a diplomatic passport on October 18, 2023, under the previous government, despite what Ablakwa described as his ineligibility. The issuance of the passport has raised further questions about how deeply rooted the conspiracy may be.

Mensah Bonsu is expected to face criminal prosecution in the coming days. The Minister hinted that the suspect has claimed he acted on instructions from unnamed superiors who allegedly granted him access to official documents.

“This case should send a strong message to all stakeholders — the Government of Ghana is determined to ensure justice is done and to recover every pesewa lost,” Ablakwa stated. He also reassured the Nigerian government and an attempted buyer, who had filed formal petitions with the current Mahama-led administration, that the matter is being pursued with urgency and seriousness.

“The Mahama administration will not shield anyone involved in this criminal enterprise. Ghana’s reputation must be protected, and our cherished relations with Nigeria must not suffer,” Ablakwa emphasized.

He concluded with a stern warning: “No diplomatic property belonging to the people of Ghana is for sale — severe consequences await anyone who tests our resolve.”

The arrest marks a major step in what officials describe as a broader investigation into the unauthorized sale of state assets abroad, and the government has pledged full transparency and accountability as the case unfolds.

Source: GhanaNewsOnline