The Ghana Police Service has refuted claims that the arrest of Awutu Senya East NDC parliamentary candidate Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor was based on an “order from above”.
According to the police service, the claim was made by the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, during a press conference on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
In a statement, the police described Mr Asiedu Nketia’s claims as false and without basis.
“The attention of the Ghana Police Service has been drawn to a video in which Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia is heard claiming that the Accra Regional Police Commander, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Inspector-General of Police had indicated to him that the arrest of some three persons for possession of firearms at Ofaakor in the Awutu Senya East Constituency was based on an order from above.
“We would like to categorically state that the claims are false and without any bases. None of the officers mentioned in the video has at any point in time made any such pronouncement,” the statement said.
It emphasized that all three suspects were arrested when a pump action gun with four rounds of ammunition was found in their vehicle at the offices of the Electoral Commission.
Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor was cautioned on the offence of transferring firearms without authority, while suspects Abdulai Aziz and Mustapha Mohammed were cautioned on the offence of possession of firearms without authority.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, June 6, the court remanded into police custody to reappear on June 19, 2024, suspect Usman Haruna for stabbing one person during the disturbances at the office of the EC at Ofaakor in the Awutu Senya East constituency.
Speaking after their release from police custody, Mr Asiedu Nketia said that the NDC will not sit aloof and allow their freedom to be trampled upon going into the 2024 elections.
He hinted that the police were acting on the powers of the state to intimidate their party members.
Former President John Mahama also issued a statement claiming that the detention was ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, under the instructions of National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah.
Meanwhile, the police have forwarded the docket of the case to the Attorney General.
The Attorney General is expected to review the case and provide advice accordingly.