Bullgod Recounts Three Days in BNI Detention and Armed Arrest Following Akufo-Addo Criticism

Ghanaian artiste manager Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bullgod, has opened up about what he describes as a troubling period of political intimidation during the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo. In a candid interview on Changes on Changes, aired on Joy Prime, Bullgod detailed his arrest, detention, and the personal and financial toll he says he endured after publicly criticising the former leader.

According to Bullgod, his ordeal began after he made comments expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of certain national matters. Although he maintains that he still has friends within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), he stated that his primary disagreement was with Akufo-Addo himself. He claims that shortly after voicing his criticism, he was picked up from his residence by security operatives.

The artiste manager revealed that he spent three days in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), now known as the National Intelligence Bureau. He questioned why the agency handled his case, arguing that it did not have prosecutorial authority over the matter. Bullgod insists that his remarks did not constitute threats and that his detention was unjustified.

He further linked his arrest to the fallout from the collapse of gold dealership firm Menzgold, where he says he lost approximately GH¢1 million. Bullgod had professional ties with the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Nana Appiah Mensah, widely known as NAM1. Describing himself as both an insider and a victim, he argued that authorities could have addressed the company’s regulatory breaches through fines or operational restructuring rather than a complete shutdown.

The collapse of Menzgold had far-reaching consequences for customers across Ghana. Bullgod reflected on the severe impact the situation had on individuals and families, noting that many investors lost their life savings. According to him, some victims reportedly suffered deteriorating health, broken marriages, and other personal hardships as a result of the financial losses.

Recounting one of the most alarming moments of his experience, Bullgod described an incident following a television appearance during which he suggested that customers of the defunct company should be paid before the President left office. He alleges that his comments were misconstrued as a threat.

Shortly after the broadcast, Bullgod said he stepped out briefly to buy food when multiple vehicles suddenly arrived at his location. He described the scene as dramatic and intimidating, with several four-wheel drives and other vehicles pulling up, carrying armed officers dressed in bulletproof vests. The display of force, he said, felt surreal and excessive.

Bullgod’s revelations have reignited public discussion about free speech, political authority, and the lingering effects of the Menzgold saga in Ghana. His account adds to ongoing conversations about the balance between national security enforcement and the protection of civil liberties in democratic governance.

As debate continues, Bullgod maintains that he was exercising his right to express his views and hopes his experience will encourage broader reflection on the protection of dissenting voices in Ghana’s political landscape.