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Scores of journalists and curious observers yesterday morning stormed the North Ridge residence of former Minister for National Security, Mr. Francis Poku, over reports that the former security chief was under house arrest, 72 hours after he was removed from office. Government immediately dismissed the reports as purely speculative. The question on the lips of the journalists was how come Mr Poku had suddenly become a security threat to the State as his 7th Avenue Extension North Ridge residence in Accra, was virtually taken over by combat-ready security agents. When Daily Guide got to the usually quiet cul-de-sac around 9:00 am, four heavily built police officers had positioned themselves at the main entrance to the house ready to counter any resistance. Wearing bullet-proof jackets and metal helmets, the security agents were armed to the teeth. They prevented any person from either entering or coming out of the house. Parked beside the men was a police pick-up van carrying about 10 ferocious looking policemen, armed in similar combat gear. About eight other men dressed in mufti and believed to be from National Security were also hovering around the vicinity. Reports were that several more armed men were in the residence as well. The Saturday morning announcement of the dismissal from office of the national security minister jolted many journalists and political analysts, especially as it came without further explanation, fuelling rumours and speculation. The journalists were prevented from entering the house. “My friend, please get back,” a policeman charged. News making the rounds was that Mr. Poku had been placed under house arrest. However, a statement from the Office of the President swiftly denied that the former security chief had been put under house arrest, saying that the events that occurred yesterday morning had been the routine workings of National Security. The statement, signed by Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation, said, “After Mr. Francis Poku was relieved of his position as Minister for National Security on Saturday, January 12, the National Security Council as is routine and in conformity with world-wide practice, initiated a process of debriefing and completing a handing-over procedure. Mr Poku, as security professional himself, is very aware of these routine procedures.” It said Mr. Poku’s military security detail was to be replaced with police as is the norm with all ministers. “Surprisingly, the detail met some pressmen at the premises, who apparently misunderstood their presence and carried the news in an exaggerated fashion, calling the incident a ‘house arrest’. “Government assures the entire nation that the ongoing events are in the best interest of the country,” the statement added. Speculations of what might be happening intensified when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow, arrived. He appeared to have no knowledge of what the issue was and without even making an attempt to get into the house, drove off. A few minutes to 10:00 am, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt General J. B. Danquah, arrived at the scene in a military convoy. The CDS was allowed into the guarded house and the gate immediately put under lock and key. Tension started to mount outside when another Police pick-up vehicle with its headlights on, sped to the scene, screeching to a halt as more heavily armed, tough-looking Policemen started jumping off the vehicle. At this point, the CDS’ dispatch rider cautioned the journalists, who were itching to cover every inch of the unfolding drama and had thrown all caution to the wind, to move away as the situation could break into a shootout. Not even family members of Mr. Poku were allowed into the house. A woman described as a sister of the former Minister broke down and wept uncontrollably. Ironically, some of the armed guards started to comfort her and wiped away her tears. She declined talking to the media. Around 10:30am, the two police pickup vehicles left with some of the armed men stationed outside. The CDS and his convoy also left shortly afterwards. By this time, a lot of people who claimed to be Mr. Poku’s relatives had gathered, and were communicating via mobile phones with those in the house. There was a brief period of anxiety when Mr. Poku, dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt over trousers, came out of the house and inquired from the Police what instructions they had been given, and why they were preventing his relatives from seeing him. The reply from the armed men was not clear to the media but Mr Poku was heard saying: “Nonsense. I do not take orders from the IGP”. He succeeded in getting his relatives into the house. Though he looked his usual calm and unassuming self, none of the barrage of questions that greeted him from the media got a response. Bits of information Daily Guide picked up suggested that the security detail had been withdrawn, leaving only police presence at the residence for his personal security. Later on, relatives and sympathizers who wanted to get into the house were allowed after tough scrutiny. No media personnel were however allowed into the house. In a later interview with Daily Guide, Mr. Poku hinted that the issue had to do with his exit from government and handing over his portfolio. He said he was prepared to hand over peacefully and would never do anything to jeopardize the reputation and credibility of a government he had selflessly served for the last seven years. However, he had not concluded the handing-over notes when the incident occurred. Mr. Poku expressed reservations that the Inspector General of Police, P.K. Acheampong, had to dispatch such a large number of armed police personnel to his residence yesterday morning, and that the police presence was unnecessary. He said he had been assured by two top army officers that he was not under house arrest. Information available to Daily Guide suggests that the handing-over notes might be ready by Wednesday night, which was yesterday.As at the time Daily Guide was leaving the besieged premises at around 3:00pm, almost all the journalists had left. However, scores of sympathizers including Major (rtd) Kojo Boakye Djan, the architect of the June 4, 1979 Revolution; Nana Oye Lithur of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative; Raymond Atubuga of the Law Faculty of the University of Ghana, Legon and Egbert Faibille Jnr., Editor of the Ghanaian Observer, were at his residence.