Newly elected Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has stated that the admission by National Democratic Congress (NDC) Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, that he directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah confirms concerns over selective justice under the current government. According to him, this admission raises serious questions about the independence of law enforcement agencies and the influence of political actors in their operations.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, October 5, Mr Aboagye described Mr Gbande’s admission as "unfortunate". He questioned why the NDC Deputy General Secretary, who also serves as Deputy Director of Operations at the Office of the President, would have the authority to direct EOCO to arrest a citizen. Mr Aboagye emphasized that Mr Gbande is not a security official and therefore does not have a professional mandate to direct EOCO operations.
Mr Aboagye further accused the government of selectively applying the law against opposition figures while allowing others who commit similar offences to go free. He argued that any law that is selectively applied is illegal. According to him, law enforcement agencies must operate independently and apply the law equally, regardless of a person’s political affiliation.
The NPP Communications Director insisted that the influence of political actors in law enforcement operations undermines the principles of justice and fairness. He stated that if political actors can dictate who should be arrested, it creates a situation where the law is applied based on political considerations rather than on merit.
Mr Aboagye's comments come at a time when there are concerns about the independence of Ghana's law enforcement agencies. The NPP has previously raised concerns about selective justice, suggesting that the government targets opposition figures while letting others off the hook. These concerns have been denied by the government.
The issue has sparked a renewed debate about the need for law enforcement agencies to operate independently. Many have called for reforms to ensure that law enforcement agencies are insulated from political interference. The debate is expected to continue in the coming days.
The incident has also raised questions about the relationship between the government and law enforcement agencies. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to these concerns and whether any reforms will be implemented to address them.
Key points
- NPP Communications Director Dennis Miracles Aboagye says Gbande's admission confirms concerns over selective justice.
- Aboagye questions Gbande's authority to direct EOCO arrest of Manhyia South MP.
- Aboagye accuses government of selective justice against opposition figures.
