The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has demanded the immediate release of Dennis Miracles Aboagye, following his arrest by officers of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) at the airport.
In a statement issued by the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, Esq., the party said Mr. Aboagye was picked up with the help of Immigration officers and has since been denied access to his lawyers. His whereabouts have also not been disclosed, and no charges have been preferred against him.
“Let us be clear about what this is. It is not law enforcement. It is intimidation,” the statement said.
The NPP noted that Mr. Aboagye is “one of the loudest and most effective critics of this government” and has spoken publicly on issues including galamsey. The party also said he announced his candidacy for a leadership position within the NPP only hours before his arrest.
The party is demanding that EOCO release Mr. Aboagye immediately, or charge him and put him before a court of competent jurisdiction as required by the Constitution. It is also demanding that he be granted unrestricted access to his lawyers and his family without further delay, citing Article 14(2) of the 1992 Constitution.
Additionally, the NPP is calling on the government to end what it described as “the pattern of politically motivated invitations, arrests and detentions targeted at members of the New Patriotic Party.”
“We say to EOCO and to those directing it: institutions of state are not private weapons. Ghanaians are watching, and Ghana’s institutions will outlive this government,” Mr. Kodua stated.
He further urged NPP members to “stay calm, stay lawful, stay united,” adding that “intimidation has never silenced this party, and it will not begin today.”
