Newly elected New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Director Dennis Miracles Aboagye has questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, following an admission by NDC Deputy General Secretary Mustapha Gbande that he instructed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest the legislator.
Mr Aboagye said the admission raises questions about the extent to which political actors can influence the operations of law enforcement agencies.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, October 5, he argued that Mr Gbande, as a political party official, had no authority to direct EOCO to arrest a sitting Member of Parliament.
“It’s unfortunate… I saw his clip from the AM show and I was just shaking my head. And I’m sure a lot of people are watching, both locally and in the international community. People are asking themselves, what kind of democracy is Ghana running?” he said.
Mr Aboagye further questioned the professional basis for Mr Gbande’s alleged directive, stressing that decisions by law enforcement agencies should be guided by established procedures and independent assessments.
He said the situation could fuel concerns about the independence of state investigative institutions and perceptions of selective application of the law.
“If we have a situation where it takes Mustapha Gbande to direct the EOCO on whom to arrest in this country, it now explains why for a very long time people have been complaining about selective justice,” he said.
Mr Aboagye also referred to Mr Gbande’s position as Deputy Director of Operations at the Office of the President, arguing that this does not give him a professional mandate to direct EOCO operations.
He maintained that law enforcement agencies must apply the law consistently, warning against what he described as selective use of legal authority.
“Any law that you selectively apply is illegal,” he said.
The NPP Communications Director said Mr Gbande should rather explain or apologise for the admission instead of defending the alleged directive.
He insisted that arrests and other law enforcement decisions should be based on professional assessments, evidence and established legal procedures rather than instructions from political actors.
