Bishop Bonegas under investigation for unlawful use of Police dispatch rider

Portia Arthur

June 30, 2015 11:13 AM

In the light of the investigation, Bishop Bonegas has revealed he has never paid Lance Corporal Mensah to work as a bodyguard or travelled with him anywhere as a bodyguard.

Bishop Daniel Kwame Kissi Bonegas, the Founder and Overseer of the Great Fire Pentecostal International Ministry is allegedly being investigated by the police for the unlawful use of Police services namely use of police dispatch riders and use of the policeman as security guard.

Lance Corporal Benjamin Akyea Mensah, the policeman involved is also being investigated for breaching the codes and conducts of the Police Service.

Authorised engagement of police

A statement signed by the Director-General in charge of Administration, Commissioner of Police (COP) Ms Rose Bio Atinga, said it had come to the attention of the police that some members of the public, notably some religious leaders, businessmen and other influential personalities, were resorting to unauthorised use of policemen as bodyguards, security guards and escorts.“The Police Administration wishes to state that such engagements are unlawful,” it said.

It advised members of the public to desist from such unlawful engagements of police personnel. It further advised that persons with peculiar security concerns should contact the appropriate police authorities for the necessary action.

Bishop Bonegas in an interview with Accra based Newspaper, Daily Graphic disclosed all the allegations levelled against him are false.

The man of God revealed, Lance Corporal Mensah is a church member and a dedicated usher to church services. “I have never used him as a bodyguard or guard at the church. He is an usher of the church, together with some other police and military men. He has been a member of the church for more than three years".

“I have three personal bodyguards who travel with me anywhere and are also with me at church service,” he added. - See more", he added.

Bishop Bonegas disclosed that he has a cordial relationship with Lance Corporal to the extend of him naming his child after him[Bishop] and he frequently visits him at home.

He admitted that Lance Corporal Mensah wore uniform to church but he was not the only person who came to church in Police uniform. Bishop Bonegas added, the church has employ security personnel in charge of all their security needs and the first appearance of a police man in the church was during the Easter season with authorisation from the Ghana Police Service.

Police dispatch rider

In a related development, the police said they were investigating the conduct of the police dispatch rider and a driver who were captured in a video in which some associates of some football stars misconducted themselves. A statement issued by the police explained that it approved an official request for security escort from Gold Star Consult for national and international football stars travelling to Kumasi for a football fiesta, an event in support of the Kumasi Children’s Hospital.

It said on Saturday, June 19, 2015, a convoy of the celebrities left the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange for Kumasi and in the course of the journey the video circulating on social media was shot by persons now identified as associates of some of those stars and were part of the convoy. It said the necessary action would be taken after the investigations.

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Portia Arthur