I�m Shocked My In-Law Is A Fugitive � Dr Wampah ...But More Questions For Security Agencies
Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Henry Kofi Wampah has stated that until the arrest of Mr David McDermott, the husband of his stepdaughter, Ramona Wampah, he had no knowledge that Mr McDermott was a fugitive of the British government.
“I have received news about the arrest of David McDermott, who is married to my stepdaughter, Ramona, with shock,” he said.
He explained that he knows Mr McDermott to be a worker in the mining sector and has been living in the country with Ramona since their marriage some three years ago.
“Until I received information about his arrest, I had absolutely no knowledge about David being a fugitive of the British government.”
Mr McDermot, who has been described as Britain’s most wanted cocaine fugitive, was arrested at his residence at Burma Hills in Accra.
Ghana Police, acting on a tipoff, stepped in to arrest Mr McDermott in conjunction with British officials. They have since begun his extradition application.
However, the suspect plans to fight his case tooth and nail, and has hired a set of lawyers to appeal his extradition.
The 42-year-old is suspected of being a member of an organised crime syndicate, and has been on the run for three years for his connection to a smuggling plot to import £71 million worth of cocaine into the UK.
Financial Intelligence Centre probe
As the police get set to arraign Mr McDermott for court, extradition should not be the end of the case.
Now that Dr Wampah has hinted that the alleged fugitive works in the mining sector, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) must investigate the source of the money Mr McDermott invested in the mining business.
Aside mining, the investigations should also look for other businesses that the fugitive might be involved in, if any.
The FIC investigations should also find out information such as how Mr McDermott got his money into Ghana --- whether it was through his own bank account, another person’s bank account or through the accounts of a corporate body.
It will be important to also find if any of the money transferred came from UK banks to Ghana and whether the UK banks alerted their Ghanaian counterparts that Mr McDermott is a fugitive.
Questions for security agencies
While commending the security agencies for arresting Mr McDermott, it will be important to know whether he was on a wanted list prior to his arrival in Ghana or after he entered Ghana.
Did Mr McDermott enter Ghana through approved borders or not?
For the daughter of an important public official like the Central Bank Governor to be married, was any security check conducted on Mr McDermott before the marriage was approved?
If is true that Mr McDermott operates in the mining sector, what kind of checks were conducted to ensure that he is a genuine businessman?
Alert by UK’s National Crime Agency
David McDermott
Return to most wanted
Summary
David McDermott, 41: Wanted by the National Crime Agency on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to blackmail. McDermott is originally from Ormskirk but his last known address was in Liverpool. He is believed to be a member of a Liverpool-based organised crime group involved in a conspiracy to supply cocaine. Approximately 400 kilos of cocaine was found hidden in a container of frozen Argentinian beef in May 2013 at Tilbury Docks. Not knowing the cocaine had been seized, he was observed by NCA officers meeting with other members of the crime group. They allegedly discussed the use of violence against anyone who had information. He is described as 5ft, 11 ins [sic] tall and has a two-inch scar on his wrist.
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