The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly 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 stirred political debate, stemmed from separate incidents involving alleged threats against a presiding judge and accusations of false publication. Abronye DC was detained over claims that he threatened a judge at the Adenta Circuit Court, while Abubakar Yakubu was held in connection with an alleged false publication said to have tarnished the reputation of a public official.
Both men were released on bail on April 13, 2023, after spending a short period in police custody. Reacting to the arrests, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin raised concerns about police professionalism, urging law enforcement authorities to exercise caution and impartiality in handling sensitive matters.
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.
Source: Richard Obeng Bediako
