The Minority in Parliament has raised serious concerns over what it describes as a growing pattern of unlawful raids and politically motivated harassment targeting former government officials.
Addressing a press conference, Second Deputy Whip, Hon. Jerry Amhed Shaib, condemned the conduct of security agencies, particularly the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and the National Security, accusing them of acting outside the law to intimidate political opponents.
“We have invited you today to address a matter of critical national importance, one that strikes at the very heart of our democracy, the rule of law, and the sanctity of individual rights”
Hon. Jerry Amhed Shaib, Second Deputy Whip, Minority Caucus
Hon. Shaib stressed that state power must be exercised in good faith and not be weaponized for political retribution.
“The mandate given to law enforcement and security agencies is to serve the public interest, not to act on behalf of political actors seeking retribution or to suppress dissenting voices”
Hon. Jerry Amhed Shaib, Second Deputy Whip, Minority Caucus
The Minority accused security services of blatant abuse of power, noting that their actions were undermining public confidence in law enforcement.
The NIB and National Security, in particular, were singled out for overstepping their mandate by conducting what the Minority described as “illegal raids, midnight arrests, and prolonged detentions without trial.”
Attorney General’s Conduct Questioned
Beyond the conduct of security agencies, the Minority also took issue with the posture of the Attorney General, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, whom they accused of “overstepping,” his constitutional role.
The Attorney General, they argued, should serve as a legal advisor to the government and an officer of the court, not an investigator or prosecutor who “prejudges,” cases before they are even brought to trial.
“The Attorney General is not expected to start off by prejudicing an investigation and in his mind conducting an inquisition at suspects.
“Since when did we have an Attorney General who himself orders arrests, conducts investigations, and examines his own evidence to determine if a prima facie case has been docketed against a suspect? This is highly improper and leads to bias right from the investigation process”
Hon. Jerry Amhed Shaib, Second Deputy Whip, Minority Caucus
The Minority expressed concern that the Attorney General’s approach undermined the rule of law by attempting to convict individuals in the “court of public opinion,” rather than allowing due process to take its course.
“The courts of Ghana are the only ones that should be allowed to convict or acquit. How can you suspect a person who is innocent until proven guilty by a court, not take him to court but proceed to conduct a public show of your suspicions seeking to prejudice the public mind against him”
Hon. Jerry Amhed Shaib, Second Deputy Whip, Minority Caucus
Intimidation And Political Diversion
According to the Minority, the government’s recent actions are part of a broader attempt to distract the public from pressing national issues, including economic hardship, power outages and the ongoing fight against illegal mining.
They accused the administration of using security agencies to intimidate political opponents in a bid to shift away from its governance failures.
“Ghanaians should not fall for this but should instead call the administration for these underhand tactics.”
He cited the case of former security “Capo”, Kwabena Adu Boahene, who was arrested and paraded in handcuffs upon his arrival at the airport, along with his wife and pastor, and detained for over 48 hours without charge.
Such actions, he noted, were reminiscent of “coup-era tactics” and had no place in a functioning democracy.
A Disturbing Trend
The Minority pointed to a growing list of former government officials who have faced similar treatment in recent months.
Among them is former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, whose private residence was raided by armed operatives in balaclavas without a warrant.
Similar raids have been conducted on the homes of former Energy Minister John Peter Amewu, former Jubilee House Director of Operations Lord Commey, and former Public Procurement Authority Chairman Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi.
These incidents, the Minority argued, violated Article 18 of the Constitution, which guarantees personal liberty and protection from arbitrary searches and seizures.
A Call for Accountability
For the Minority, these actions reflect a broader “misuse of state institutions,” for political ends. They insist that security agencies must operate within the law and not be used to settle political scores.
“When security forces terrorize law-abiding persons at the whim of invisible forces, we cannot create a just society. Today, it is Dr. Addison; tomorrow, it might be anyone who dares to think for themselves or to disagree with the status quo”
Hon. Jerry Amhed Shaib, Second Deputy Whip, Minority Caucus
He called on civil society, the media, and all well-meaning Ghanaians to resist the growing trend of intimidation through state institutions, emphasizing that Ghana’s democracy could not thrive in a climate of fear and selective justice.
“The weaponization of state institutions for political ends is not only dangerous; it is unconstitutional. This incident speaks to a troubling trend of power being abused without accountability and institutions being manipulated to protect those in power rather than serve the people”
Hon. Jerry Amhed Shaib, Second Deputy Whip, Minority Caucus
Democracy at Stake
The Minority insisted that democracy must be safeguarded through adherence to the rule of law, not through political persecution.
They urged the government to abandon what they described as underhanded tactics and instead focus on delivering on its promises to Ghanaians.
“Let us be clear, the health of our democracy depends on our collective ability to call out abuse when we see it and to demand better. Ghana deserves better. The people of Ghana deserve better”
Hon. Jerry Amhed Shaib, Second Deputy Whip, Minority Caucus
The controversy surrounding the raids and arrests is expected to fuel further political debate.
At the heart of the Minority’s concerns is the recent raid on the residence of the immediate past Governor of the Bank Of Ghana (BOG), Dr. Ernest Addison.
According to the minority, the operation, carried out by the National Security operatives, raises fundamental questions about due process, the rule of law, and the role of state institutions in a democratic society.
As the Minority pushes for accountability, the government’s response will likely determine the trajectory of Ghana’s democratic stability in the years ahead.
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