Ashanti Regional NPP condemns EOCO's handling of Wontumi, demands fairness

The Ashanti Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned the arrest of its chairman. They call the process unlawful and an abuse of due process.

At a press briefing in Kumasi on Friday, May 30, regional executives shared details. On Friday, May 23, armed men surrounded the chairman’s home in Atasomanso.

The chairman had attended an invitation from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Monday, May 26. He was asked to return on Tuesday, May 27. As a law-abiding citizen, he complied with this request.

After meeting with CID at their headquarters, he was allegedly ambushed by EOCO operatives. A regional executive member raised concerns about this investigation method. “What kind of investigation is EOCO doing that CID cannot?” they asked.

The party expressed worry over what they see as misuse of power. Lawyers for the chairman often struggle to access him. Family members and party officials also receive little information about his situation.

They reported that the chairman is not in good health and lacks access to medical care of his choice. “This is not the governance Ghanaians chose,” they stated firmly.

After a turbulent political history, Ghanaians agreed to uphold democracy and rule of law. The executives quoted Lord Hardwicke: “There cannot be anything of greater consequence than to keep justice clear.”

They explained that due process means following legal measures for fair trials and inquiries. They questioned EOCO's actions regarding justice delivery.

“Are we keeping justice pure and clear?” they asked EOCO. They also questioned if inquiries are fair and if arrests were lawful.

“Our answer to all these questions is 'No',” said the executives. They urged EOCO to reconsider bail conditions judiciously.

Fairness and transparency must be evident throughout this process, they stressed. Citing Article 14(4) of the 1992 Constitution, they argued for reasonable bail terms.

This would allow the accused to prepare a legal defense and seek medical care from trusted professionals. The Ashanti Regional executives appealed to government leaders and religious figures for support.

They concluded by thanking national NPP officers for their solidarity during this time.

“We believe in our chairman's innocence regarding these charges,” they stated confidently. They requested reasonable bail terms so he can regain his freedom before court proceedings begin.