The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed deep anger towards the Police following the arrest and subsequent detention of their parliamentary candidate for the Awutu Senya East constituency, Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor, towards the end of last week.
In a strongly worded statement, the party’s national chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, commonly known as General Mosquito, vehemently declared that the NDC will not idly stand by while its members are targeted in the name of democracy.
During a hastily convened press briefing to announce the release of their parliamentary candidate on Saturday, General Mosquito issued a stern warning to any entity that colludes to oppress or discriminate against the NDC, emphasizing that they will resist such actions without hesitation.
“The laws of this nation apply to all individuals equally. There shall be no partiality in their enforcement. We refuse to be subjected to the state’s coercive authority. True freedom comes at a cost, and we are prepared to fight for it.
We emphatically reject any attempts to use the state’s power against us,” General Mosquito asserted at the press event on Saturday, June 8.
The NDC openly criticized specific figures, pinpointing the arrest of the Awutu Senya East Constituency parliamentary candidate on the directive of the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, as baseless and unwarranted.
The party’s former general secretary condemned the arrest, which led to clashes between party supporters and law enforcement at the Cantonments police station, warning that such actions could unnecessarily escalate political tensions as the upcoming December elections draw near.
Addressing the Minister directly, Mr. Nketia issued a stark message, cautioning that accountability will catch up with Hawa Komson sooner rather than later, emphasizing that she is not exempt from the laws of the land and will be held responsible for her actions. In a parallel development, the Police have revealed that the case file concerning the arrest of the NDC parliamentary candidate is being transferred to the Office of the Attorney-General for further examination and guidance.
The police statement disclosed that Naa Koryoo was cautioned on the charge of unauthorized transfer of firearms and subsequently granted bail along with three others. Her detention at the Cantonments Police Station prompted a protest by NDC sympathizers demanding her immediate release.
The initial circumstances leading to the arrest of Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor revolved around an alleged incident where Ato Koomson, son of the local Member of Parliament and Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Mavis Hawa Koomson, was purportedly stabbed during an Electoral Commission voter transfer exercise. Furthermore, reports indicated the discovery of a licensed firearm within the candidate’s vehicle, which she claimed was for self-defense against the MP known for previous firearm incidents during the 2020 registration exercise.
Despite earlier reports suggesting multiple arrests, a senior NDC official clarified that the candidate was merely invited for questioning regarding the firearm possession. Consequently, her unexpected arrest and subsequent transfer to the police station caught many by surprise.
In response to these events, NDC’s national communications officer, Sammy Gyamfi, rallied party members and supporters on social media to gather at the police station demanding the release of Ms. Okunor, characterized as a nursing mother.
While demonstrators gathered at the Cantonments police station, former President John Dramani Mahama voiced his concerns online, calling for the immediate release of the parliamentary candidate and denouncing the purported abuse of state power to intimidate political opponents in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.