Gbande Denies Ibrahim Mahama’s Role in Peters’ Arrest

 

The Deputy Director of Operations at the Presidency  Mustapha Gbande has refuted claims circulating in the media that Ibrahim Mahama brother of  President John Dramani Mahama played a role in the arrest of Nigerian businessman Benedict Peters.

The clarification comes after reports on Monday, April 7, 2025, alleged that Mr. Peters was apprehended at the Aurora Apartments in Kanda near the Jubilee House,\ during a tense standoff that involved armed men and multiple vehicles blocking the entrance to the residential complex.

According to those initial reports Ibrahim Mahama was said to have intervened in the matter possibly influencing how it was handled. However, speaking in an interview on Joy News, Mustapha Gbande described those claims as entirely false and misleading.

The story that Ibrahim Mahama intervened is untrue, Gbande stated. Many people live in that area and Ibrahim Mahama who is also a resident heard about the commotion. He drove to the location and met us there. He stepped out asked what was happening] and I gave him a brief explanation.

Gbande explained that at the time of Ibrahim Mahama’s arrival the security team was already wrapping up the operation and preparing to transport Mr. Peters to the nearest police station.

He saw Mr. Peters—because they are friends he greeted him—and then he left. That was all. There was no interference or influence in the process whatsoever, he clarified.

Gbande also dismissed suggestions that National Security operatives were part of the operation.

Let me make it clear—National Security did not take part in this operation at all. This was a security response managed by my team until the Regional Police Commander and the Divisional Police Commander arrived. Once they came in, they took over the matter entirely he said.

The arrest of Benedict Peters followed reports that he and a group of unidentified armed men used their vehicles to block access to the Aurora Apartments. The act, which created tension and disrupted residents’ movements, led to swift intervention by the appropriate authorities.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that the presence of security personnel calmed the situation, and Mr. Peters was eventually taken into custody without resistance.

This latest development highlights the importance of verifying facts before spreading potentially damaging reports. Gbande’s public clarification aims to preserve the integrity of law enforcement processes and prevent political or personal misinterpretations.

With this new information, it’s clear that Ibrahim Mahama’s presence at the scene was coincidental and not part of any official intervention. Mustapha Gbande’s detailed account of the incident brings clarity to what had become a controversial narrative, reaffirming the rule of law and the independence of security operations in Ghana.