Leading Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dennis “Miracles” Edward Aboagye, has criticised the Ghana Police Service over what he describes as the alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of an innocent nurse in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Aboagye, a former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation, expressed concern over what he termed a pattern of “speculative arrests” allegedly linked to the Police’s search for a person identified only by the nickname “Ghana Jollof.”
In a statement shared on Facebook, Mr Aboagye questioned the fairness and justification for arresting individuals based merely on suspicion that they may be connected to or be the person being sought by the Police.
“Ghana Police Service sincerely, how is this fairness. How is this justice,” he asked.
According to him, the latest alleged incident involves a nurse working at a health facility in Techiman who, he insists, is not a politician and has no known political involvement.
Mr Aboagye claimed that the nurse was arrested and taken to an undisclosed location because of a suspicion that she could be the person the Police were searching for.
He said the woman’s only alleged connection to the NPP was through her husband, whom he described as an NPP member.
“This is a noble nurse, serving her country in a health facility at Techiman. She’s not a politician. Her husband, is rather an NPP member,” Mr Aboagye stated.
He questioned why an individual who is performing a professional public service should allegedly be subjected to arrest and detention simply because of an association with someone perceived to belong to the opposition party.
Mr Aboagye further alleged that the incident forms part of what he described as a growing pattern of speculative arrests over the past two weeks.
“This is basically the 3rd of such speculative arrest in the past two weeks,” he claimed.
He consequently challenged the Police to consider the impact of such actions on innocent citizens who may be arrested, detained and subsequently released after investigators establish that they are not the persons being sought.
“How many more innocent citizens should go through the ordeal of speculative arrest, detention and later release in your search of your target?” he asked.
The NPP communicator also raised concerns about the psychological and emotional consequences of such arrests, particularly for people who have no involvement in the matters under investigation.
“How do these people recover from the trauma after you realise they are not the person you are looking for?” he questioned.
Mr Aboagye’s comments come amid broader political concerns about the conduct of law enforcement agencies and the treatment of opposition supporters and perceived political opponents.
While acknowledging the need for the Police to pursue persons suspected of wrongdoing, he argued that such efforts should not result in innocent citizens being subjected to what he described as unnecessary detention.
He urged authorities to exercise greater caution and ensure that investigations are based on credible evidence rather than assumptions or political affiliations.
He also warned political actors and state institutions against using political power in ways that could later have consequences for those currently exercising it.
“In all things, at all times, let’s always remember, what we do to others, may find its way back to us,” he said.
According to him, Ghana’s political environment must move away from what he described as an “outmoded” approach to politics, particularly the use of state power against political opponents and ordinary citizens.
“This kind of politics, is outmoded, old school and we must learn from the past and be mindful, how we use political power today against other citizens,” he stated.
Mr Aboagye reiterated in his statement with a direct appeal to the Police to release the nurse if investigations have established that she is not the person being sought.
“Free the innocent nurse to go take care of her patients,” he said.
His comments are likely to fuel renewed debate over the balance between effective policing and the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights, particularly in politically sensitive investigations.
The Ghana Police Service is yet to publicly respond to Mr Aboagye’s specific allegations as contained in his statement.
By 1960news.com
