Justin Kodua Frimpong, the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said the arrest of New Patriotic Party (NPP) communications team member Dennis Miracles Aboagye is not law enforcement but intimidation.
The NPP General Secretary stressed that Dennis Miracles Aboagye, who is one of the loudest and most effective critics of the Mahama government, was picked up just to be intimidated.
In a Facebook post, Justin Kodua Frimpong wrote, “Officers of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), with the help of Immigration officers, arrested Dennis Miracles Aboagye at the airport and took him into custody. Since then, they have denied his lawyers access and his whereabouts are not disclosed, with no charges preferred.
Let us be clear about what this is. It is not law enforcement. It is intimidation.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye is one of the loudest and most effective critics of this government. He has asked hard questions about galamsey. He has challenged this administration’s record. He announced his candidacy for a leadership position in our party only hours ago. And now he sits in EOCO custody”.
The NPP General Secretary further demanded that EOCO release Dennis Miracles Aboagye immediately, or charge and put him before a court of competent jurisdiction.
He wrote, “The NPP therefore demands:
That EOCO release Dennis Miracles Aboagye immediately, or charge him and put him before a court of competent jurisdiction as the Constitution requires.
That he be granted unrestricted access to his lawyers and his family, without further delay. Article 14(2) of the 1992 Constitution is not a suggestion.
That this government end 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.
To our members: stay calm, stay lawful, stay united. Intimidation has never silenced this party, and it will not begin today”.
Meanwhile, Henry Nana Boakye, the National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has announced that the party will be marching to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on Monday, July 13, over the arrest of Dennis Miracles Aboagye.
According to Nana Boakye, the NPP will March to the EOCO to demand answers over the arrest of Dennis Miracles Aboagye.
Nana Boakye highlighted that the circumstances surrounding Miracles’ arrest are an attempt to intimidate members of the opposition.
He alleged that Miracles was arrested without any prior invitation or notice from EOCO of any alleged wrongdoing.
Nana Boakye also fumed over the increasing use of state institutions to harass political opponents, highlighting that the practice undermines Ghana’s democratic principles.
“Miracles has not received any invitation from EOCO. He has not been informed of any wrongdoing. He has not been told that he is under any form of investigation,” Nana Boakye stated.
Manasseh Azure Awuni, an Investigative journalist, has weighed in on the arrest and detention of Dennis Miracles Aboagye.
According to Manasseh Azure, it may be premature to join in condemning Dennis Miracles Aboagye’s arrest, adding that Law enforcement agencies may know what other Ghanaians don’t know.
He added that EOCO may have a valid reason for the arrest, though some past arrests of opposition figures yielded nothing in the end.
In a post shared on Facebook, Manasseh Azure wrote, “ARREST OF DENNIS MIRACLES ABOAGYE
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Mainstream and social media are blazing with the alleged arrest of the opposition New Patriotic Party’s Dennis Miracles Aboagye by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
I do not know why he was arrested, so it may be premature to join in condemning the arrest. Law enforcement agencies may know what the rest of us don’t know. At this point, I assume they have a valid reason for the arrest, though some past arrests of opposition figures yielded nothing in the end.
In the interest of transparency and for the avoidance of misinformation and disinformation, however, our law enforcement agencies should be proactive in informing the public. I’m not saying they should put all the details of their investigations out.
A short statement from EOCO confirming the arrest and the subject of the arrest would inform the public and quell the speculation and tension that often accompany such arrests.
The frequent drama of arresting someone, not disclosing where he’s detained and denying him legal representation and family access should be reserved for rare incidents.
In the end, it is the weight of the evidence, and not the intensity of the drama, that will prevail in court”.
See the post below:
