Details have emerged on how the MP for Asante Akyem North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, was taken into custody by Dutch security officers at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam shortly after a KLM flight from Accra landed, over claims of romance fraud and money laundering.
Information available shows the lawmaker left Kotoka International Airport on Saturday, May 9, on KLM Flight 590. The flight reportedly departed Ghana via Gate C7 around 10:10 p.m., and touched down at Schiphol at about 4:36 GMT on Sunday.
Sources familiar with the incident said that once the aircraft stopped at Gate F3 and passengers prepared to leave, the pilot instructed everyone to stay seated for what was termed a security check.
According to those sources, a group of Dutch security personnel then boarded the plane and went straight to the Business Class cabin where the Asante Akyem North MP was seated next to another senior government official on the same flight.
The officers are said to have identified the MP, informed him of his rights and handcuffed him before leading him off the aircraft to a waiting security vehicle.
He was later placed in detention.
The arrest is reportedly tied to allegations of romance scams and money laundering, though Dutch authorities have not yet made public full details of the case.
The incident has sparked wide debate in Ghana, with Parliament earlier confirming it had been notified of the detention of the Independent MP for Asante Akyem North.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, Parliament revealed that the Rt. Hon. Speaker and House leadership were engaging Ghana’s mission in The Hague to get more information on the circumstances of the detention.
Meanwhile, former MP for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has called for calm and urged the public not to pre-judge while investigations and legal processes run their course.
Speaking to Citi News on Wednesday, May 13, Appiah-Kubi stressed the importance of due process and the principle that every accused person is innocent until proven guilty.
“International law does not allow anyone to be condemned without being allowed to be heard. He remains innocent until proven guilty and we expect due process to be followed before any conclusions are drawn,” he stated.
“When he is given the chance to present his side and a ruling is made, then we can determine who is guilty or otherwise. For now, we should avoid rushing to condemn him or accepting only one side of the evidence while ignoring the other.
“We must uphold the principles of the rule of law and respect fundamental human rights,” he added.
Dutch authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the allegations, while diplomatic talks between Ghanaian and Dutch officials continue.
