The New Patriotic Party Russia Branch has called on state and civil society institutions to intervene over what it describes as the dangerous use of state power to persecute opposition members under the National Democratic Congress administration.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Ebenezer Wepari, the branch alleged that institutions including the Police, Economic and Organised Crime Office and National Security are being used to harass and intimidate members of the opposition. The branch argued that such conduct, if established, could weaken confidence in Ghana’s democratic institutions and the principle that all citizens must be treated equally before the law.
According to the statement, the use of state institutions against political opponents risks undermining the rule of law when investigations are perceived as being influenced by political considerations instead of evidence presented through due legal processes.
The NPP Russia Branch further warned that the treatment of political dissent has implications beyond individual cases, arguing that a democratic system must provide space for opposition parties to operate without fear of arbitrary state action.
It also linked the “political persecution” to Ghana’s international standing, contending that investors and development partners monitor how governments treat political opposition and dissent.
“We condemn this in the strongest terms. No government has the right to criminalise opposition, and every allegation of wrongdoing must be tested through evidence and competent legal processes.”
Ebenezer Wepari
The statement therefore called on the Judiciary, National Peace Council, Ghana Bar Association, civil society organisations, the clergy and the international community to scrutinise developments involving opposition figures. The branch urged these institutions to speak out on what it described as the misuse of public authority and to demand adherence to constitutional safeguards.
It further appealed to the government to allow investigations into alleged wrongdoing to proceed through established legal procedures, arguing that accountability should be determined through competent courts. The NPP Russia Branch stressed that its position was rooted in the principle that Ghana belongs to citizens across political affiliations and that state institutions must serve the public without partisan discrimination.
It consequently urged the President and his government to halt what the statement described as political persecution of opposition members and to ensure that law enforcement agencies operate within their lawful mandates.
The branch also called for vigilance from institutions responsible for protecting Ghana’s democratic order, warning that continued use of state power against political opponents could erode public confidence in governance.
MP’s Attempted Arrests Rekindles Debate Over Arrests
The attempted arrest of Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah at the Accra High Court has renewed debate within the New Patriotic Party over how opposition figures are treated during investigations by state agencies.
The incident occurred on September 23, 2026, shortly after the MP appeared at the court as counsel for Salomey Baffoe Awiti, when an EOCO officer approached him and sought to take him to the agency’s office. EOCO later explained that the action formed part of an ongoing investigation and that Baffour Awuah had failed to honour two invitations issued in February.
Honourable Awuah disputed aspects of the encounter, explaining that the woman who identified herself as an EOCO officer did not produce identification, proof of authority or an arrest warrant when he requested them. He subsequently drove from the court premises to Parliament, where he addressed journalists about the incident and described his decision as necessary to protect himself.
In July, he commented on the arrest of Dennis Miracles Aboagye by EOCO in connection with investigations into alleged financial and procurement irregularities involving about GH¢55 million at the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation. Honourale Awuah argued that the NPP did not oppose accountability but objected to how some members were handled after arrest.
He also criticised the GH¢50 million bail condition imposed on Aboagye, arguing that the former presidential staffer has been cooperating with investigators and questioning the necessity of his arrest at the airport. The latest incident has since triggered a response from the NPP, condemning the attempted arrest and calling for scrutiny of what occurred at the court premises.
At the parliamentary level, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin also addressed the matter at a press conference, calling on the Chief Justice to examine the practice of law enforcement agencies attempting to arrest suspects on court premises. He stressed that the Minority is not opposed to accountability but questioned the circumstances surrounding the reported operation involving the MP.
On the other hand, EOCO emphasised that parliamentary membership does not end an investigation or place an individual beyond the law, while also acknowledging constitutional privileges and protections applicable to Members of Parliament.
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