[ 2014-10-21 ]

Ghana’s Envoy in Japan recalled over illegal gambling
Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr Edmond Kofi
Agbenutse Deh, has been recalled pending the
completion of a Bureau of National Investigations
(BNI) inquiry into allegations that Ghana’s
mission in Japan had been involved in an illegal
gambling business which had led to the arrest of
10 Japanese.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Regional Integration said the
ambassador was on leave awaiting the conclusion of
the BNI investigations, as the Japanese
authorities had completed their investigations.

The statement, signed by Mr Leslie Kojo Christian,
the Chief Director of the ministry, said following
reports of the alleged involvement of the
ambassador in an illegal gambling operation in
Tokyo, the Foreign Affairs Ministry recalled
Ambassador Deh for consultations.

The Ghana Embassy in Japan was instructed to
submit a detailed report on the matter.

It said after exhaustive interrogation by the BNI,
the ambassador was directed to return to Tokyo to
assist police investigations, which, it said, had
since been completed.

Background
The Daily Graphic said in a publication on the
matter on October 1, 2014 that the BNI was yet to
release the report of its investigations into the
matter.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional
Integration had, in a statement issued by the
sector Minister, Ms Hanna Tetteh, said it was
being assisted by its staff in Japan to conduct
its own investigations into the matter.

Casino bust
According to media reports, on March 5, this year,
the police in the Japanese capital, Tokyo,
arrested 10 people suspected of running an illegal
gambling business in a room leased in the name of
a former Ghana Ambassador to Japan, Mr William
George Mensah Brandful.

Nine of the 10 had admitted the charges against
them, but the 10th person, Hiroyuki Yamanoi, 35,
had denied them, police sources said.

Source - Daily Graphic

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