The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned the arrest of its Sunyani East Constituency Communications Officer, Abubakar Yakubu—popularly known as Baba Amando—describing the development as troubling and raising concerns about due process and free speech.
In a statement issued on April 13, 2026, the party said Mr. Yakubu, accompanied by his lawyer, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, reported to the Bono Regional Police Headquarters after receiving what it described as an official invitation from the Ghana Police Service.
However, upon arrival, they were reportedly informed by officers that there was no record of such an invitation at the regional command. According to the NPP, further inquiries with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra indicated that Mr. Yakubu was in fact expected in the capital, not Sunyani.
The party alleges that the CID in Accra subsequently directed that he be arrested and transferred from the Bono Region, Ghana to Accra. He is currently in police custody and being transported to the capital for further proceedings.
The NPP described the incident as part of what it claims is a broader pattern of intimidation of dissenting voices under the administration of John Mahama. It further argued that the arrest raises concerns about civil liberties and the use of state security agencies.
The party also suggested that the matter is being used to distract from national challenges, including economic pressures and policy concerns, though these claims have not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has not yet publicly responded to the specific allegations regarding the invitation or the circumstances of the arrest.
The NPP is urging authorities to ensure due process is followed and to safeguard constitutional rights.
The statement was signed by National Organizer Henry Nana Boakye.
