Eric Amoateng
Encyclopedia
Eric Amoateng is a politician
and a former Member of Parliament
in Ghana
. He was arrested for drug trafficking in 2005 in the United States and jailed for drug trafficking.
, obtaining a diploma in religion
in 1992.
Amoateng was also the chief (king) of Amoma, a town in the Kintampo South District
of the Brong Ahafo Region, with the title Nana Amoateng Ameyaw II. He is said to have spent lavishly on his people and earned a reputation for philanthropy.
(NPP) MP candidate for the Nkoranza constituency in 2000 amidst some controversy. Some were reportedly wary of his affluence. It is also reported that in 2001, Amoateng was once accused of visa fraud.
Amoateng renounced his chieftancy in 2004 in order to stand in the December 2004 parliamentary elections
on the ticket of the NPP, adopting Bomini in the neighbouring Nkoranza North constituency
in the Nkoranza District
of the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, as his home town. His candidacy for the Nkoranza North constituency was challenged at the Sunyani High Court in 2004 but the case was eventually withdrawn from the court. He won 46.9 per cent of the votes with a margin of 22.3 per cent to become the first ever Member of Parliament for the newly created Nkoranza North constituency , from January 7, 2005.
on November 12, 2005. He had travelled to the USA on an Emirates Airline
flight to the John F. Kennedy International Airport
(JFK) with a friend, Nii Okai Adjei. The trip was ostensibly to buy wrist watches for resale in Ghana with US$9,000 seized from Amoateng. Seven boxes of pottery which had landed at Newark Liberty International Airport
from London
, destined for JFK a day earlier were found to contain 136 pounds of heroin. The reported street value of the drugs was about US$6 million. Amoateng and Adjei were monitored by security personnel as they took delivery of the cargo and sent it to an American Self-Storage location on Staten Island
. They were arrested the next day when they went to inspect the goods. Amoateng apparently unsuccessfully claimed diplomatic immunity following his arrest. They were charged with "conspiracy with intent to distribute heroin".
Eric Amoateng and Nii Okai Adjei initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute narcotics when brought to court. Adjei later changed his plea to guilty. Following this, a second charge was brought against Amoateng. In August 2006, a third charge of "distributing a controlled narcotic substance of about a kilogram or more containing heroin" was brought against Amoateng.
On March 19, 2007, Amoateng changed his plea to guilty. He was sentenced on 12 December 2007 to 10 years in jail.
, directed on January 30, 2007, that the question of Amoateng's long absence from parliament be revisited. He however sent a resignation letter dated 4 February 2007 to the speaker
of the Parliament of Ghana
which was accepted.
By-election
s were finally held on March 13, 2007, to replace Amoateng, 16 months after his arrest. The seat was won by a retired army major, Derek Oduro who was sworn in on March 21, 2007.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and a former Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. He was arrested for drug trafficking in 2005 in the United States and jailed for drug trafficking.
Early life and education
Eric Amoateng was born in Ghana on February 19, 1953. He had his secondary education at Nkoranza Anglican School, Nkoranza, where he passed his O-levels. He then attended Nkoranza Training College, Nkoranza for his A-level education, completing in 1973. He then attended the Nkoranza Teacher Training College, from where he qualified as a teacher. Years later, he attended the University of GhanaUniversity of Ghana
The University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
, obtaining a diploma in religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
in 1992.
Career
Amoateng initially worked as a teacher. He then worked as marketing manager for a company Koajay, that bought and distributed school supplies.Amoateng was also the chief (king) of Amoma, a town in the Kintampo South District
Kintampo South District
The Kintampo South District is a district in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. It was split off the former Kintampo District by a decree of president John Agyekum Kufuor on November 12, 2003.-References:*...
of the Brong Ahafo Region, with the title Nana Amoateng Ameyaw II. He is said to have spent lavishly on his people and earned a reputation for philanthropy.
Politics
Eric Amoateng unsuccessfully bid to stand as the New Patriotic PartyNew Patriotic Party
-External links:*...
(NPP) MP candidate for the Nkoranza constituency in 2000 amidst some controversy. Some were reportedly wary of his affluence. It is also reported that in 2001, Amoateng was once accused of visa fraud.
Amoateng renounced his chieftancy in 2004 in order to stand in the December 2004 parliamentary elections
Ghanaian parliamentary election, 2004
The Ghanaian parliamentary election was held on 7 December 2004. Presidential elections were held on the same day.-Results:-See also:*List of Ghana Parliament constituencies*MPs elected in the Ghana parliamentary election, 2004-External links:**...
on the ticket of the NPP, adopting Bomini in the neighbouring Nkoranza North constituency
Nkoranza North (Ghana parliament constituency)
Nkoranza North is one of the constituencies represented in the Parliament of Ghana. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
in the Nkoranza District
Nkoranza District
The Nkoranza District is a district of Ghana in the Brong Ahafo Region.-Sources:*...
of the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, as his home town. His candidacy for the Nkoranza North constituency was challenged at the Sunyani High Court in 2004 but the case was eventually withdrawn from the court. He won 46.9 per cent of the votes with a margin of 22.3 per cent to become the first ever Member of Parliament for the newly created Nkoranza North constituency , from January 7, 2005.
Arrest, trial and jail
News sources reported that Amoateng was arrested in the United States of AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on November 12, 2005. He had travelled to the USA on an Emirates Airline
Emirates Airline
Emirates is the airline based in the Emirate of Dubai part of the United Arab Emirates . Based at Dubai International Airport it is the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 2,400 flights per week, from its hub at Terminal 3, to 111 cities in 62 countries across six continents...
flight to the John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
(JFK) with a friend, Nii Okai Adjei. The trip was ostensibly to buy wrist watches for resale in Ghana with US$9,000 seized from Amoateng. Seven boxes of pottery which had landed at Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, destined for JFK a day earlier were found to contain 136 pounds of heroin. The reported street value of the drugs was about US$6 million. Amoateng and Adjei were monitored by security personnel as they took delivery of the cargo and sent it to an American Self-Storage location on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
. They were arrested the next day when they went to inspect the goods. Amoateng apparently unsuccessfully claimed diplomatic immunity following his arrest. They were charged with "conspiracy with intent to distribute heroin".
Eric Amoateng and Nii Okai Adjei initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute narcotics when brought to court. Adjei later changed his plea to guilty. Following this, a second charge was brought against Amoateng. In August 2006, a third charge of "distributing a controlled narcotic substance of about a kilogram or more containing heroin" was brought against Amoateng.
On March 19, 2007, Amoateng changed his plea to guilty. He was sentenced on 12 December 2007 to 10 years in jail.
Fallout from arrest
Following his arrest, there was a long debate as to whether Amoateng should still be held as the sitting MP for Nkoranza North. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Chief Whip, maintained that "until the case is disposed off he remains a suspect and that the allegation would have to be substantiated." While the majority leader in parliament announced that the government will hold the fort for the MP, the opposition insisted that a by-election be held to replace him. This went on for more than ten months. One of his sons, Augustine Akwasi Amoateng, defended his father's innocence in April, 2006. Amoateng eventually sent a letter of resignation around May 2006 to parliament but this was thrown out on procedural grounds. The Speaker of Parliament, Ebenezer Sekyi-HughesEbenezer Sekyi-Hughes
Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi-Hughes was the Speaker of the Ghanaian parliament between 2005 and 2009.-Early life:Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes was born on September 4, 1939 at Cape Coast, the capital of the Central Region of Ghana. He had his basic education at the Cape Coast Government Boys School from 1945 to...
, directed on January 30, 2007, that the question of Amoateng's long absence from parliament be revisited. He however sent a resignation letter dated 4 February 2007 to the speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Parliament of Ghana
Parliament of Ghana
The Parliament of Ghana is the legislative body of the Ghanaian government.-History:Legislative representation in Ghana dates back to 1850, when the country was a British colony. The body, called the Legislative Council, was purely advisory as the Governor exercised all legislative and executive...
which was accepted.
By-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
s were finally held on March 13, 2007, to replace Amoateng, 16 months after his arrest. The seat was won by a retired army major, Derek Oduro who was sworn in on March 21, 2007.
Trivia
- On February 13, 2006, the Nkoranza constituency branch chairman of the NPP commended the volunteers who worked on Eric Amoateng's 300 hectare maize farm in his absence.
- On March 24, 2006, a rally was held in his support by the people of Busunya attended by NPP delegates. Some placards at the rally read “Cocaine or No Cocaine Amoateng Is Still Our MP.”
- In April, 2007, the chiefs and people of Busunya in the Nkoranza district named a street after Eric Amoateng for his "contribution to the socio-economic development of the area". He is also reported to have helped to "finance the construction of eight streets and drainage systems in the town which is the constituency capital."