The Ashanti Regional branch of Ghana's opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed strong condemnation for an attempted arrest of Manhyia South lawmaker Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah at the Accra High Court. According to the party, an officer claiming to be from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) approached Baffour Awuah at about noon on Wednesday, intending to serve him with an invitation or arrest him. The incident, captured on video, led to a confrontation between the officer and the MP's lawyers.
Baffour Awuah was present at the court as counsel for Salomey Baffoe Awiti, a nurse currently in police custody, whose bail application was before the court. The NPP described the attempted arrest as unlawful and an "attempted kidnapping". The party's Regional Secretary, Dr Francis Adomako, signed a statement accusing state security agencies of unlawfully targeting members of the opposition party. The incident has sparked concerns about the conduct of state agencies and the protection of citizens' rights.
The Ashanti NPP has called on EOCO to investigate the conduct of the officer involved and take appropriate action, alleging that the attempted arrest breached constitutional procedures governing Members of Parliament. The party also urged the Speaker of Parliament to establish a bipartisan committee to investigate an alleged cocaine scandal under the current National Democratic Congress government. According to the NPP, any actions against its members intended to prevent them from speaking about the cocaine allegations would be viewed as intimidation.
The incident has drawn reactions from various stakeholders, with the NPP calling on the National Peace Council, Ghana Bar Association, civil society groups, religious leaders, and traditional authorities to speak out against what it describes as abuses of citizens' rights. The party emphasized its commitment to using all lawful and constitutional means available to challenge what it considers unlawful actions by EOCO and other state agencies.
EOCO has stated that the attempted arrest of Baffour Awuah was linked to an ongoing investigation and that the agency had previously invited him to assist with the inquiry. However, the circumstances surrounding the attempted arrest and the legal basis for the action remain disputed. The incident has raised questions about the relationship between state agencies and the opposition party, as well as the protection of parliamentary privileges.
The Ashanti NPP's condemnation of the attempted arrest has sparked a renewed debate about the role of state agencies in Ghana's democratic process. The party's allegations of unlawful targeting of opposition members have also raised concerns about the potential for politically motivated actions by state agencies. The incident is likely to have significant implications for Ghana's democratic landscape and the relationship between the government and the opposition.
The NPP's statement has also highlighted the ongoing controversy over cocaine trafficking in Ghana, with the party calling for a bipartisan investigation into the alleged scandal. The incident has underscored the need for greater transparency and accountability in Ghana's governance and law enforcement processes. The Ashanti NPP's actions are likely to be closely watched by various stakeholders, including civil society groups, the media, and the international community.
Key points
- The Ashanti NPP has condemned the attempted arrest of MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah at the Accra High Court, citing a breach of constitutional procedures governing Members of Parliament.
- The incident has sparked concerns about the conduct of state agencies and the protection of citizens' rights in Ghana.
- The NPP has called for a bipartisan investigation into an alleged cocaine scandal under the current National Democratic Congress government.
