Omanghana
The Parliamentary Minority has accused the government of using the controversial detention of Kwame Baffoe, widely known as Abronye DC, as a political smokescreen to divert public attention from mounting economic challenges, alleged selective justice, and unresolved national crises.
According to opposition lawmakers and political communicators, the state’s intense focus on arresting high-profile political figures is part of a broader strategy to shift national discourse away from what they describe as unmet government promises and growing public dissatisfaction.
In a statement issued by Deputy Minority Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the Minority Caucus condemned what it described as the increasing use of state security agencies, including the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), now known as the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), to suppress dissent and intimidate critics.
The Caucus argued that the media attention surrounding recent political arrests is being deliberately amplified to overshadow pressing national concerns, including unresolved agricultural payment disputes and ongoing dissatisfaction over cocoa pricing and farmer payouts.
Opposition leaders further claimed that while state resources are being aggressively deployed against political opponents, critical national security issues are receiving inadequate attention. They referenced recent communal violence in northern Ghana that reportedly left 31 people dead and displaced nearly 50,000 residents, questioning the government’s priorities amid the crisis.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and members of Abronye DC’s legal team have also criticized the conditions surrounding his detention. They described his continued remand as constitutionally questionable and raised concerns over his deteriorating health while in custody.
According to the legal team, authorities allegedly imposed significant restrictions on access to family members and lawyers during his detention, sparking further political backlash from opposition supporters and civil society voices.
The controversy intensified following Abronye DC’s recent re-arrest. The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court and subsequently remanded.
He is facing charges including false publication, offensive conduct conducive to the breach of public peace, and issuing threats after allegedly publishing a social media video targeting a judge at the Adenta Circuit Court.
Despite the opposition’s criticism, some legal analysts and defenders of the state’s actions maintain that freedom of expression is not without limits. They argue that statements perceived as threatening or capable of undermining judicial authority must be addressed within the framework of the law rather than defended solely on the basis of civil liberties.
The case continues to generate intense political debate, deepening tensions between the government and opposition figures over issues of free speech, judicial independence, and the use of state security institutions in Ghana’s political landscape.
Source: Omanghana
