The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the Judiciary and state security agencies of acting under political influence in the handling of the case involving its communicator, Baba Amando.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, described the arrest and remand of Mr Amando as a “statesponsored political abduction”. He alleged that the development reflected a broader pattern of judicial and security interference aimed at silencing opposition voices.
He claimed that Mr Amando was initially invited by police in Sunyani, where he honoured the invitation with his lawyer before being transferred to Accra. According to him, the communicator was granted police bail and complied with all reporting instructions but was later taken to court and remanded despite what he described as the absence of any objection from the prosecution.
Serious questions
Similarly, the NPP National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, alleged that the decision by the court to remand the accused person raised serious questions about judicial independence, insisting that the judge in the case acted beyond the role of a neutral arbiter. He argued that the circumstances suggested what he termed “judicial overreach” and claimed the ruling was inconsistent with both legal procedure and constitutional protections.
He further stated that the prosecution neither opposed bail nor applied for remand, adding that the court’s decision therefore lacked legal justification. The NPP National Organiser insisted that if police and prosecutors had concerns about interference with investigations, they would have formally raised them, rather than the court acting independently in that direction.
Mr Boakye also drew parallels between the case and other political speechrelated incidents involving opposition figures, including senior party officials who have faced arrest and prosecution. He argued that such developments pointed to what he described as a pattern of selective justice against critics of the government.
Past statements
He referenced past political statements by government officials and opposition exchanges, arguing that similar remarks had gone unpunished, which he said demonstrated unequal application of the law. According to him, this had created a situation where opposition voices were being treated differently under the justice system.
The NPP National Organiser also accused the Economic and Organised Crime Office of engaging in politically motivated operations, including what he described as unlawful raids on private residences. He specifically cited a recent incident involving former Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Chief Executive Maxwell Kofi Jumah, describing the action as intimidation rather than legitimate investigation.
Mr Boakye alleged that state security agencies were increasingly being used to target political opponents, warning that such actions risk undermining public confidence in democratic institutions. He further claimed that the government had weaponised law enforcement bodies to pursue partisan interests.
Political bias
He called on the Chief Justice to investigate the “apparent political bias” within the Judiciary, and demanded an immediate review of the remand order in the Baba Amando case. He also urged the government to desist from what he termed the harassment of political opponents.
He maintained that the situation represented a broader threat to free speech and civil liberties, arguing that Ghana’s democratic principles were being undermined by politically motivated prosecutions.
Mr Boakye stressed that instead of focusing on opposition figures, the government should prioritise national issues such as job creation, education, healthcare delivery, infrastructure development and the cost of living. He argued that citizens expected solutions to economic challenges rather than political confrontations.
He reaffirmed the party’s position that free expression must be protected and insisted that no citizen should be punished for political speech, declaring that “free speech is not a crime” and calling for the immediate release of Baba Amando.
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