The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, widely known as Abronye DC, and the party’s Sunyani East Communications Officer, Abubakar Yakubu, have been granted bail following their arrests by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.
The arrests, which have sparked significant political debate, came on the heels of separate incidents involving alleged threats against a presiding judge and accusations of false publication.
Abronye DC’s arrest followed accusations that he made threats against a judge at the Adenta Circuit Court, while Abubakar Yakubu was detained over claims of a false publication, which allegedly damaged the reputation of a public official. Both men were granted bail on April 13, 2023, after spending a brief period in police custody.
In response to the arrests, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed concerns about the professionalism of the police force, urging them to act with caution and restraint. Speaking to the press in Accra on Monday, Afenyo-Markin emphasized the need for the authorities to handle such sensitive issues with fairness and impartiality.
The NPP’s National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, also addressed the media, fiercely criticizing the actions of the government. Boakye argued that the arrests were a calculated move designed to divert attention from the government’s mounting challenges, which include unfulfilled promises on key issues such as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, unemployment, and the high costs of doing business in the country.
Boakye further insinuated that these arrests could be part of a broader strategy to suppress opposition voices, especially as the government faces growing scrutiny over its performance. He pointed to several unaddressed issues, including the passage of key legislation, the ORAL (One Region, One Agenda for Learning) policy, and the ongoing challenges within the business sector, particularly with the port operations.
