Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Convener for the #FixTheCountry Movement, has spoken after his release from police custody, accusing authorities of acting unlawfully.
According to him, he was manhandled by security officials while under detention for allegedly threatening a coup on social media.
Speaking on his arrest on Facebook, the Cambridge PhD student recounted the horrifying conditions in prison and mishaps in Ghana’s criminal justice delivery.
“On Friday, 11 February 2022, I was unlawfully detained by security officials of this regime, tortured, and subsequently held without just cause for 35 days,” he lamented. “I slept in a room designed for four people but ultimately filled with nearly 30 detainees. This room was without ventilation and had bed bugs, cockroaches and rats crawling inside”.
Barker-Vormawor was arrested on 11 February 2022 by the Tema Regional Police Command following a post he allegedly made on social media to the effect that he would stage a coup himself if Parliament passed the controversial Electronic Levy (E-Levy) Bill.
“The post contained a clear statement of intent with a possible will to execute a coup in his declaration of intent to subvert the constitution of the Republic of Ghana,” the police statement dated 12 February 2022, signed by the Director-General of Public Affairs, DCOP Kwesi Ofori said.
After his post, a section of Ghanaians who found his comments distasteful poured out on social media to call the Ghana Police Service to arrest him.
Mr Barker-Vormawor has been charged with a treason felony, but he pleaded not guilty.
He was arraigned on Monday, 14 February 2022 and later granted bail on 16 March 2022.
He was granted a bail of GH¢2 million with two sureties, one of whom should deposit documents to their landed property at the court.
The youth activist must report to the police once a week.
The court directed that Mr Barker-Vormawor’s passport should also remain in the custody of the state.