The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has admonished the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service not to be a pawn of the Akufo-Addo government.

In a statement signed by the party’s General Secretary Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah following the CID’s arrest and release of his National Chairman Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo on Tuesday, the NDC said: “We call on the Police CID not to allow itself to be used to play politics with the rights and lives of the citizens of Ghana”.

The party noted that: “Ghanaians are very worried about the general state of insecurity in the country and that this apparent grand-standing by the Police CID is a far cry from their duty of being the primary defenders and protectors of all Ghanaians”.

It added: “The NDC, as the largest opposition party, would like to assure its teeming supporters that it remains law-abiding and that Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo and the leadership of the party can always count on the solid support of the party.

“We would never allow ourselves to be intimidated or suppressed. We would never surrender any of our rights guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution, which we graciously birthed. We will resist oppressors’ rule in Ghana”.

The party also said it is “poised and ready for victory in the 2020 elections and absolutely nothing will stop our forward march to save the people of Ghana from the clueless and inept leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo”.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo is being investigated in connection with recent kidnapping and arson cases.

Read the NDC’s full statement below:

STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF CHAIRMAN OFOSU-AMPOFO

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has noted with regret a Police CID statement creating an unfortunate impression that the National Chairman of our party has been taken into police custody after an arrest at a Church Street address in North Labone, Accra. The NDC would like to inform the nation and the party’s teeming members and supporters of the chronology of events preceding yesterday’s development as follows:

On 7th May, 2019, the Police CID addressed a letter of invitation to Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo to report at the Police CID Headquarters on 9th May, 2019 to be interrogated over a claim that “some of the persons picked up for interrogation and investigation have mentioned your name as part of a grand scheme designed to cause fear and panic in the country”.

On 9th May, 2019, the Council of Elders of the NDC at a press conference expressed its abhorrence at this approach of the Police CID which they characterised as intended to intimidate and harass the leaders of the NDC and weaken the resolve of its members to hold the government to account for its misgovernance and non-performance. The Council of Elders‘ position was informed by the fact that the Police CID within the same period was prosecuting Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo on a similar matter before an Accra High Court. The Elders were of the view that any fresh charges related to the same or similar allegation could conveniently have been added to the earlier charges. Accordingly, the Council of Elders suggested to the Police CID to procure a warrant of arrest, if it was insistent on arresting the National Chairman.

On Sunday, 9th June 2019, the party issued a statement that its credible sources within the government had informed leading members of the NDC that the Police CID had procured a warrant for the arrest of Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo.

On Monday, 10th June 2019, the Police CID confirmed to the lawyers of Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo that they had indeed procured an arrest warrant. Subsequently, an agreement was reached between the Police CID and the lawyers of Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo to meet at the No.3 Church Street, North Labone, office of Messrs. Ato Ahwoi and Kwame Peprah, members of the Council of Elders of the NDC. That agreement also stipulated that Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo would be granted bail after an interrogation period not exceeding one hour. In line with the agreement, the Police CID appeared at the agreed location at Tuesday, 11th June 2019 at about 3pm. The police produced an arrest and search warrant issued by an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe dated 22nd May, 2019. In compliance with the court order, Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo, in the company of his lawyers, proceeded with the Police CID to have his residence searched.

The interrogation and the writing of his statement at the Police CID Headquarters took about half an hour. However, it appeared afterwards that the police were reneging on their pledge to grant him bail as previously agreed. The Police CID then said that on the basis of a statement issued by the General Secretary of the NDC, informing the public of the arrest and urging members and supporters of the party to remain calm, they were unwilling to grant bail as agreed. Consequently, this heightened tension in the interrogation room. Finally, when calm was restored, Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo was granted bail and informed to return on Thursday afternoon. He and his lawyers left the Police Headquarters after 8 p.m.

We call on the Police CID not to allow itself to be used to play politics with the rights and lives of the citizens of Ghana. Ghanaians are very worried about the general state of insecurity in the country and that this apparent grand-standing by the Police CID is a far cry from their duty of being the primary defenders and protectors of all Ghanaians.

The NDC as the largest opposition party would like to assure its teeming supporters that it remains law-abiding and that Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo and the leadership of the party can always count on the solid support of the party. We would never allow ourselves to be intimidated or suppressed. We would never surrender any of our rights guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution, which we graciously birthed. We will resist oppressors’ rule in Ghana.

The party is poised and ready for victory in the 2020 elections and absolutely nothing will stop our forward march to save the people of Ghana from the clueless and inept leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo.

JOHNSON ASIEDU-NKETIAH

GENERAL SECRETARY

WEDNESDAY, 12TH JUNE 2019 ACCRA