The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has charged the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service (CID) not to allow itself to be used to play politics with the rights and lives of Ghanaians.
“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 said Wednesday on the back of the arrest and granting of bail of its National Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.
Mr Ampofo, the embattled National Chairman of the NDC was arrested by the police on Tuesday weeks after he refused to honour an invitation by the Police CID to report at the headquarters of the investigative body.
He was arrested whilst visiting heroes of the NDC with the General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia to answer allegations of kidnappings leveled against him.
Commenting on the arrest, in a statement, the NDC said: “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.”
Below is the full statement
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 8pm.
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
