The Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Asokwa, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, has criticised the arrest and detention of some opposition supporters and raised concerns over the detention of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North abroad.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader as Parliament resumed sitting, Honourable Appiagyei argued that recent developments have created anxiety about democratic governance and Ghana’s international image.
The Asokwa MP welcomed members back from recess and stressed that Parliament has a constitutional responsibility to speak when governance concerns emerge. According to her, the Minority considered it necessary to address issues affecting citizens and defend democratic accountability within the country.
Honourable Appiagyei indicated that one of the major concerns during the recess involved the detention of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam over allegations linked to financial crimes. She explained that the incident attracted widespread international attention and generated discussions about Ghana’s reputation abroad.
According to the Deputy Minority Leader, Parliament and Ghana’s diplomatic mission in The Hague have initiated steps to secure legal representation and consular support for the legislator. However, she argued that the matter requires stronger diplomatic engagement because of the reputational implications associated with the case.
From her perspective, government officials and Parliament need to provide regular updates to the House on the matter. Honourable Appiagyei further urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Speaker’s office to intensify diplomatic efforts surrounding the incident as silence will not suffice.
The MP for Asokwa also cautioned politicians and sections of the media against prejudicial commentary while investigations remain ongoing. She stressed that no court has established guilt against the politician and insisted that due process must be respected at all times.
Meanwhile, Honourable Appiagyei criticised the arrest of some opposition party supporters during the recess period. According to her, several individuals were detained over comments linked to the return of persistent power outages, commonly referred to as dumsor.
“A party organiser was seized by masked and heavily armed officers over a social media post about dumsor. Today it is members of the opposition. Tomorrow it could be any Ghanaian who dares to disagree with the government.”
Hon. Patricia Appiagyei
According to Honourable Appiagyei, democratic governance depends on the protection of civil liberties and the right of citizens to express dissenting views. She therefore called on the Inspector General of Police and the Criminal Investigations Department to review the cases and release individuals held without sufficient legal justification.
“Parliament sits at the centre of the nation’s life, and in recent weeks that life has been marked by failure, scandal and the deepening suffering of millions of Ghanaians who placed their trust in a government that has not earned it. The Minority does not assess the nation to score political points. We do so because when the Executive fails, Parliament must speak. When the government refuses to answer, this House must ask. And when power is abused, it is our duty to state so clearly and without apology.”
Hon. Patricia Appiagyei
Additionally, the Asokwa MP appealed to the Attorney General to ensure that constitutional rights remain protected under the law. She further argued that state institutions serve the interests of the Ghanaian people and must remain fair in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Minority Raises Concerns Over Power Outages
The Deputy Minority Leader and MP for Asokwa, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, argued that communities continue to experience prolonged and unpredictable power cuts. According to her, the outages have disrupted economic activities and increased pressure on households and healthcare facilities.
The Asokwa MP stated that businesses are losing revenue while many residents struggle to adjust to unstable electricity supply. She mentioned that students in some communities continue to study under difficult conditions because of the recurring outages.
According to Honourable Appiagyei, the situation shows weaknesses within the country’s energy sector that require urgent intervention. She linked the concerns to earlier incidents surrounding the Akosombo power control centre fire and developments at GRIDCo.
The Deputy Minority Leader further argued that the recurring outages are creating financial losses for businesses and affecting productivity nationwide. In addition, she called on the government to provide clear measures aimed at stabilising the power sector and restoring confidence among citizens.
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