Afenyo-Markin Slams Police Over Abronye’s Detention

The arrest and detention of Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Chairman Abronye, has sparked heated controversy, with Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, openly criticizing the actions of the Ghana Police Service. 

Speaking at a press briefing, Afenyo-Markin questioned why Abronye, a prominent member of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), was transferred into the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) despite the agency not being directly involved in the investigation.

According to Afenyo-Markin, this development raises serious concerns about due process and respect for the rule of law. 

“The question is, why would the police investigating a matter and have their own police cells decide to send a citizen who is being investigated on a matter, which is a misdemeanor, into NIB custody?” 

Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin

He added that checks conducted by his office confirmed that the NIB is not interrogating or investigating Abronye, stating that the agency is only “a recipient of the man, Abronye.”

“The police invited him on Monday, the 8th of September. He responded to the invitation by the police, went with his lawyers, and submitted himself to interrogations. Within an hour of interrogation, he was whisked into NIB custody.” 

Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin

He further alleged that the police intentionally transferred Abronye to the NIB cells as a way to keep him in custody overnight, emphasizing that the NIB was not conducting the investigation but merely holding him at the request of the police.

According to him, this decision raises troubling questions about the motive behind the transfer. 

“Is it to punish him or what?” he asked, emphasizing that Abronye was kept in detention throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning before being brought to court.

Abronye’s Detention Raises Concerns Over Human Rights Abuse

During Tuesday’s, 9th September 2025, court proceedings, Afenyo-Markin alleged that the police requested a remand for Abronye, insisting they needed more time to continue their investigations. The presiding judge upheld the request and ordered that Abronye be remanded into lawful custody.

However, Afenyo-Markin expressed grave concern over how the case has been handled, particularly the public handcuffing of Abronye after the court session. He described the actions as an abuse of the legal process.

“His rights are being abused using the court as a channel,” he lamented, stressing that the case reflects a troubling pattern of human rights violations under the guise of law enforcement.

“The time has come for political leaders to end the I do you, you do me, or you do me, I do you. It cannot be sustained,” he declared, urging all sides to prioritize the nation’s progress over partisan score-settling.

The Majority Leader also downplayed the seriousness of the charges brought against Abronye. These include publishing fake news with the intent to cause fear and panic and conduct offensive to public order.

“If you look at the charges, these are all misdemeanors. These are charges that are not serious offences. If you say somebody is publishing fake news with the intent to cause fear and panic, it’s a mere misdemeanor.” 

Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin

Afenyo-Markin argued that such charges should not warrant detention in a black maria or transfer to NIB custody.

The MP accused the police of applying the law unevenly, suggesting that members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) are treated differently from those in the opposition NPP.

He cited a recent case in which an NDC national officer allegedly threatened his life and the lives of other senior party members. Despite petitions being filed, no arrest has been made.

“Unfortunately, because there’s a different Ghana for the NPP and there’s a different Ghana for the NDC, the IGP has not even arrested the said officer.”

Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin

He also referenced a communication officer from the NDC who reportedly repeated similar threats without facing any consequences. 

This, he argued, highlights the lack of fairness in the current system.

Call For Justice And Equal Treatment

In a parting statement, Afenyo-Markin urged the NDC leadership to recognize the fleeting nature of political power. “Power is like an ice block. When it’s given to you, it starts to melt from the very day,” he warned.

The case of Abronye’s detention, he said, is more than a political dispute; it is a test of Ghana’s democratic institutions and their ability to uphold the rule of law without fear or favor.

As the matter unfolds, questions remain about whether the police will provide a clear justification for transferring Abronye to the custody of the NIB and whether the charges against him will be pursued with transparency and fairness.

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