The General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has cautioned the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) against what he describes as the “Rambo-style” arrest of opposition figures, warning that political power is temporary and that due process must always be respected.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, July 13, following the arrest of Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Mr. Kodua alleged that the NPP official had been held by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for more than 48 hours without being interrogated, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding his detention.
According to him, the arrest appeared designed to create a public perception of guilt before the legal process had run its course, insisting that no individual should be judged or condemned until evidence has been properly tested before a competent court.
“It is all part of the political tricks to create the impression that because an accountant has admitted to committing a crime, by extension Miracles Aboagye is also guilty. What place does that have in law? It doesn’t make any sense to any of us,” he said.
Mr. Kodua maintained that while no one should be above the law, investigations and arrests must always be conducted within the framework of the Constitution and the country’s legal processes.
“I’ve always said that the NDC government needs to tread cautiously. Power is transient and no condition is permanent. No one is above the law. If someone has committed a crime, it is the duty of the state to arraign that person before a court of competent jurisdiction, but not this kind of Rambo-style behaviour,” he stated.
He further alleged that the arrest formed part of what he described as a broader pattern of intimidation against opposition figures, warning that such practices could undermine Ghana’s democratic credentials if allowed to continue.
The NPP General Secretary also called on the media and civil society organisations to remain impartial and consistently speak out against any perceived abuse of due process, irrespective of which political party is in government.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has indicated that Mr. Aboagye’s arrest is linked to ongoing investigations into alleged financial and procurement-related irregularities involving approximately GH¢55 million during his tenure as Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD).
According to EOCO, Mr. Aboagye was intercepted by immigration officials upon his arrival at Kotoka International Airport before being handed over to investigators to assist with ongoing inquiries.
The anti-graft agency is yet to announce whether he has been formally charged.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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