Airport authorities in Ghana are angry at attempts by their Nigerian counterparts to pass the buck on security lapses in the case of a Nigerian accused of trying to blow up an US-bound airliner.
The 23-year old Umar Farouk AbdulMuttalab had boarded a KLM flight from Lagos to Amsterdam from where he was transferred to a Northwest flight 253 to Detroit, US, which he attempted to blow up on Christmas Day.
The device failed and he was subdued by some passengers on board. Abdulmutallab is now facing charges for trying to blow up the plane.
As the search for security lapses continue, Nigerian authorities say Mr Abdulmutallab had boarded a Virgin Nigeria plane from Accra to Nigeria, arriving at Lagos' Murtala Muhammed airport on 24 December.
According to them the suspect spent a longer period in Ghana where the security checks should have been conducted to detect the explosives being carried by the young man.
However, Deputy Managing Director of Ghana Airport Company, Yaw Kwakwa, told Joy News the Nigerians' attempts to shift the blame on Ghana was misplaced.
He said the authorities have measures in place to check such attempts, adding that, whenever they have any hint that people would be using Ghana to embark on such a mission “we will increase our chances of catching the person here”.
On the issue of whether the suspect started his journey from Accra, he said: “Nobody is saying that the person was living in Ghana, therefore, he started his entire journey from here.
“The person might have come from somewhere and pass through Ghana. We also know that the flight he boarded from Ghana was not the same flight he went to Europe on.”
Meanwhile, a security expert, Emmanuel Sowatey, has warned that the blame game could undermine the confidence needed to share vital information to avert similar attempts in the future.
Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
‘If we can do it in 36 hours, why not?’ – EC on presidential results timeline
3 mins -
Move to Canada immediately – Ghanaian-Canadian Part 2
1 hour -
Our dear nation is at a crossroads and requires an urgent reset – NDC insists
1 hour -
‘The Flower Pot Interchange is a legacy for future generations’ – Akufo-Addo asserts
2 hours -
NPP’s governance linked to Black Stars’ decline, says Mahama
2 hours -
Election 2024: I’m optimistic Bawumia will win – Nana Akomea
2 hours -
Today’s Front Pages: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
2 hours -
Did you expect former President Kufuor to endorse you? – Akomea slams Alan
2 hours -
NPP’s 2024 loss inevitable regardless of rigging efforts – Akandoh
2 hours -
Election Watch Ghana condemns alleged NPP training of thugs, calls for peace ahead of elections
2 hours -
Mahama accuses Jubilee House of orchestrating fake news campaign against him
2 hours -
Dampare assures Ghanaians of robust security plan for 2024 elections
3 hours -
Accra Institute of Technology hosts successful 2024 Science, Technology, and Innovation Expo
3 hours -
Regina Daniels had pastors, oil barons as suitors before I met her – Ned Nwoko
3 hours -
Asake featured in Wizkid’s upcoming album Morayo as full tracklist unveiled
3 hours