A member of the New Patriotic Party communications team, Fiifi Boafo, has accused the government of using recent arrests of opposition figures to divert attention from key national issues.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on Tuesday, Mr Boafo said the arrest of NPP Bono regional chairman Kwame Baffoe, widely known as Abronye DC, and Sunyani East communications officer Abubakar Yakubu was “intentional”.
“We are now abandoning discussions on revenue and business conditions to talk about state money being used to bring someone from Sunyani to Accra,” he said. “That is the diversion I have been talking about.”
Mr Boafo argued that the focus should instead be on economic concerns, including issues affecting traders and operations at the ports.
“These are matters of importance to the country,” he added. “But attention has been shifted.”
While acknowledging that the law must take its course when individuals break it, he questioned the manner in which the arrests were carried out.
“I do not support people maligning others or attacking reputations,” he said. “But when you weaponise the law against political opponents to satisfy a few hawks within your system, it takes away from the real issues we must deal with.”
He suggested that due process could have been followed without what he described as excessive force.
“If Abronye has said something wrong, invite him, let him go through the process and answer for it,” he said. “Do we need armoured cars, handcuffs and strict bail conditions?”
Mr Boafo also raised concerns about the decision to transfer the case from Sunyani to Accra, questioning the capacity of local police.
“Are we saying the Sunyani police lack the ability to handle such a case?” he asked. “When you move a matter like this to Accra, in politics, it sends a signal. It tells people where power lies.”
He further warned that such actions could discourage free expression.
“The message being sent is that people should be careful what they say,” he said. “That is dangerous in a democracy.”
The comments come amid heightened political tension, with critics accusing the government of targeting opposition figures, while authorities maintain that arrests are carried out in line with the law.
Mr Boafo insisted the country’s priorities should remain on addressing pressing economic and security concerns.
“When people begin to watch quietly without speaking, they are only advising themselves,” he said. “And no government stays in power forever.”
