Gun-waving man arrested at Ghanaian president’s church

By Umaru Amadu

ACCRA, Ghana

Ghanaian authorities are questioning a 36-year-old man arrested on Sunday at a church frequented by President John Mahama.

The suspect – whose identity has not been released by the authorities – was arrested on Sunday afternoon for brandishing a loaded pistol at the Assemblies of God Church, where Mahama and his family frequently attend Sunday services.

“The man was arrested after his suspicious behaviour at a morning church service attracted attention,” read a statement issued by the government. “He was escorted [out of the church] by security personnel and, following a search, the weapon was found.”

The man’s motives remain unclear, but church congregants voiced suspicion that he had been planning to attack either the president or the country’s chief justice, both of whom frequently worship there.

The government statement noted, however, that neither of the two men – nor their families – was at the church at the time of the incident.