…As National Security Apprehends 10 Suspects 

By Adu Koranteng

The two Canadian girls who were kidnapped in the Ashanti Regional Capital, Kumasi last week, were rescued yesterday by the Bureau for National Investigations and the counter-terrorism.

Nine suspected kidnappers were arrested in the process and airlifted to Accra.
Information indicates that six of the suspects played key roles in the crime whereas three others played auxiliary roles.

Among the key suspects include three Nigerians and six Ghanaians.
It is gathered that the driver of the vehicle used for the kidnapping who is a mechanic and one other person were first to have been arrested and led the security personnel to arrest the others.

Government has however rejected claims it rescued the two Canadian girls with the help of ‘external assets’.

Information minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah was categorical at a press conference yesterday said  the entire operation was executed by a team of professional security officials drawn from the Bureau for National Investigations and the counter-terrorism squad.

The reaction comes as social media was awash with speculations about Canadian involvement in the rescue.

Days ago, two Canadian experts arrived in the country as the kidnapping of their nationals entered day six.

He confirmed the alleged kidnappers fired guns at the police but were overpowered. The entire operation was over by 5:25 am Wednesday. Oppong Nkrumah was asked repeatedly about the presence of the Canadians and their role in the rescue. He stressed that not even technical assistance such as intelligence gathering or satellite data was obtained with Canadian help. Seeking the involvement of foreign intelligence in times of trouble or disasters is not unusual to Ghana governments.