NPP demands immediate release of Miracles Aboagye after EOCO arrest

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for the immediate release of Dennis Miracles Aboagye following his arrest by officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) at the Accra International Airport.

According to reports, Mr. Aboagye, who serves as spokesperson for the Dr. Bawumia Campaign Team, was taken into custody on Saturday. Sources indicate that the arrest may be linked to his previous role as Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCC) during the Akufo-Addo administration.

The arrest came just hours after Mr. Aboagye publicly announced his intention to contest for the position of National Director of Communications of the NPP.

In a statement issued shortly after the arrest, NPP General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua accused EOCO of denying Mr. Aboagye access to his lawyers and family members. He further claimed that the party had not been informed of the specific charges against him or his exact whereabouts.

Mr. Kodua described the arrest as an act of political intimidation rather than legitimate law enforcement, arguing that Mr. Aboagye has been a vocal critic of the current administration and has consistently raised concerns about issues including illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

“Let us be clear about what this is. It is not law enforcement. It is intimidation,” Mr. Kodua stated.

He argued that the timing of the arrest raises concerns, noting that it occurred only hours after Mr. Aboagye declared his intention to seek a key leadership position within the NPP.

“Dennis Miracles Aboagye is one of the loudest and most effective critics of this government. He has asked hard questions about galamsey. He has challenged this administration’s record. He announced his candidacy for a leadership position in our party only hours ago. And now he sits in EOCO custody,” he said.

The NPP is demanding that EOCO either release Mr. Aboagye immediately or formally charge him and present him before a court in accordance with constitutional requirements.

The party also called for unrestricted access to legal representation and family members, citing Article 14(2) of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees the rights of persons under arrest or detention.

Among its demands, the NPP urged the government to halt what it described as a pattern of politically motivated arrests and investigations targeting members of the opposition party.

“We say to EOCO and to those directing it: institutions of state are not private weapons. Ghanaians are watching, and Ghana’s institutions will outlive this government,” Mr. Kodua added.

The party further appealed to its supporters to remain calm and law-abiding despite the development.

“To our members: stay calm, stay lawful, stay united. Intimidation has never silenced this party, and it will not begin today,” the statement concluded.

As of the time of filing this report, EOCO had not publicly responded to the allegations made by the NPP, and no official details regarding the grounds for Mr. Aboagye’s arrest had been released.