The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has alleged that its communications team member, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, was arrested by officers of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) with the assistance of the Ghana Immigration Service and is demanding his immediate release.
The allegation was made by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, in a Facebook post on Sunday.
According to Justin Kodua, the NPP’s flag bearer’s former campaign spokesman was arrested at the airport and taken into EOCO custody.
He further alleged that the party official’s lawyers have been denied access to him and that his whereabouts have not been disclosed.
“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 proffered,” Mr Kodua wrote.
At the time of publication, EOCO had not issued an official statement on the alleged arrest, and the circumstances surrounding the incident could not be independently verified.
Dennis Aboagye recently declared his intention to contest for the position of National Communications Officer of the NPP and has been one of the party’s vocal communicators.
The NPP has described the alleged arrest as politically motivated, rejecting any suggestion that it was a legitimate law enforcement action.
“Let us be clear about what this is. It is not law enforcement. It is intimidation,” Justin Kodua stated.
He further argued that Miracles Aboagye had consistently criticised the government on national issues, including illegal mining (galamsey), and suggested that his recent declaration to contest for a party leadership position may have influenced the alleged action.
The opposition party is demanding that EOCO either release Dennis Aboagye immediately or formally charge him and present him before a court in accordance with the Constitution.
The party also called for Miracles Aboagye to be granted immediate and unrestricted access to his lawyers and family members, citing Article 14(2) of the 1992 Constitution.
In addition, the NPP accused the government of using state institutions to target members of the opposition, alleging a pattern of politically motivated arrests and detentions.
EOCO and the Ghana Immigration Service are yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
Source:www.kumasimail.com
