NPP condemns Abronye's arrest, says criticism is not a crime
New Patriotic Party (NPP) condemned the arrest and remand of its Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye, describing the process as a violation of constitutional protections and a threat to free expression. Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Appiagyei said the arrest breached Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees personal liberty. She said, "We are looking at the constitutional provision that no person shall be deprived of his liberty except under clearly defined circumstances."
Mrs. Appiagyei maintained that Mr. Baffoe's comments amounted to criticism rather than criminal conduct, cautioning against what she described as the criminalisation of dissent. She said, "We are not encouraging insults, but every citizen has the right to criticise a system." She also questioned the legal basis for Mr. Baffoe's detention, alleging that as of the close of business on Friday, no formal documentation had been produced to justify the remand.
The NPP has also expressed concern over what it described as attempts to indirectly reintroduce criminal libel laws, which were repealed in Ghana more than two decades ago. According to Mrs. Appiagyei, the argument that the accused could continue making public comments if granted bail was insufficient grounds for detention. She stated, "That is persecution, not prosecution."
Quick Summary
The NPP has strongly condemned the arrest of Kwame Baffoe, raising concerns about constitutional rights. The party suggests the legal process may be undermining fundamental freedoms- but what are the implications?
Summary - read the full story for complete context.
Image: MyJoyOnline
GhanaFront aggregates news from trusted sources. Click to read the original article.
Keywords
Explore related tagsMore from MyJoyOnline
Related Stories
More from Politics
Rule of law must prevail - Kwakye Ofosu defends gov't position on OSP case
A government spokesperson weighs in on the OSP case- but what could this mean for the future of the anti-corruption body?
14h ago•3 min read
Mahama fully backs the OSP - Gov't rejects secret plot claims
Is the government secretly trying to sabotage the Special Prosecutor's office? The answer may surprise you - read on!
15h ago•3 min read
Lordina Mahama recognised by Merck Foundation for her impactful programmes
Lordina Mahama has been recognised for her foundation's work - but what exactly has she been doing?
19h ago•3 min read
Lovebirds in NDC politics? Dafeamekpor's birthday message to Ebi Bright sets social media ablaze
A Ghanaian MP's birthday message has tongues wagging - what does it mean for these two political figures?
1d ago•4 min read
