Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has sent a strong warning to the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to be circumspect as the 2024 general elections approach.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, June 8, after the release of the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for Awutu Senya East, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, from police custody, General Mosquito, as he is affectionately called, said no Ghanaian law was drafted to intimidate or coerce citizens and will therefore not allow any state agency to intimidate sympathisers of the NDC.
He warned that the NDC will continue to fight until the rights of its members are respected.
“The laws of the country are meant for all of us. There should be no discrimination in applying them. We will not be victims of the peace that the country enjoys. Freedom is not free. We will fight for freedom. We will not allow the coercive powers of the state to be used against us.”
Naa Koryoo was detained at the Cantonments Police Station on Friday, June 7, upon invitation, which angered sympathisers of the NDC who later besieged the premises to demand her release. The detention attracted wide condemnation including former president John Dramani Mahama.
Others, including Naa Koryoo’s assistant, Delali Sewarkpor, also described the detention as a political persecution being carried out by elements within the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Read Also >>>> Mahama condemns detention of Naa Koryoo, calls for her immediate release
The Ghana Police Service has disclosed that the docket on the arrest of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Awutu Senya East, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, is being forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General for study and advice.
A statement from the Service indicated that Naa Koryoo was cautioned “on the offence of transfer of firearms without authority” and granted bail along with three others.
Naa Koryoo was detained at the Cantonments Police Station on Friday, June 7, upon invitation, which angered sympathisers of the NDC who later besieged the premises to demand her release.
According to the police statement, she was arrested for possessing a gun and the stabbing of the son of the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East Mavis Hawa Koomson on the dawn of Sunday, June 2, 2024.
One Usman Haruna was arrested in connection with the stabbing and subsequently remanded into police custody to reappear in court on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
The National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, warned in a press conference after Naa Koryoo’s release on June 8 that such arrests will not be countenanced in the future.
Read Also >>> I acquired a gun to protect myself against Hawa Koomson – Phillis Okunor
Below is the full police statement.
The Ghana Police Service has cautioned and subsequently granted bail to three persons who were arrested when a Pump Action gun with four rounds of ammunition was found in their vehicle at the offices of the Electoral Commission at Ofaakor in the Awutu Senya East constituency of the Central region.
Suspect, Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor has been cautioned on the offence of transfer of firearms without authority whilst suspects Abdulai Aziz and Mustapha Mohammed have been cautioned on the offence of possession of firearms without authority.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, 6th June 2024, the court remanded into Police custody, to reappear on 19th June, 2024, suspect Usman Haruna for stabbing one person during the disturbances at the office of the Electoral Commission at Ofaakor in the Awutu Senya East constituency.
Police investigations are ongoing, while the case docket is being forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General for study and advice.
