Dr. Stephen Amoah, Member of Parliament for the Nhyiaeso Constituency and former Deputy Finance Minister under the immediate past NPP government, has condemned the attempted arrest of Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi by a joint police and National Security team.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) was the target of an early morning operation at his Daban residence in Kumasi on Friday in connection with his alleged role in illegal mining activities under his company the” Akonta Mining Company Limited”.
Speaking to the Ghone News Ahanti regional Correspondent Isaac Justice Bediako at the scene, Dr. Amoah described the attempted arrest as “primitive,” “outmoded,” and a direct affront to Ghana’s democracy.
He questioned the legitimacy of the operation, particularly the presence of armed men who reportedly concealed their identities during the attempted raid.
“In a democratic environment, if a security officer is going to someone’s house to arrest them, why would they cover their face? Are we entertaining armed robbery or witch-hunting in the name of justice?” Stephen Amoah queried.
“This kind of conduct does not reflect a democracy. It undermines our rule of law and our commitment to peace.”
According to the former Deputy Finance Minsiter, Chairman Wontumi had received an invitation from the police and had officially responded, indicating his willingness to appear on Monday, May 26. “If the man has communicated his availability, what justifies deploying 25 armed men to his residence?” he asked. “This isn’t only excessive it’s regressive.”
Dr. Amoah justified the importance of due process and warned against using state power for what he termed “political witch-hunting.”
He said Ghana, which has been hailed as a beacon of democracy in West Africa, should not regress into autocratic tactics that threaten its democratic reputation.
“Our neighbors Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Togo are facing instability. Ghana has always stood out. This action sends a bad signal not only to Ghanaians but to the world, including potential foreign investors. Investors want assurance of rule of law, property rights, and stability. Undermining our democracy jeopardizes all of that,” he cautioned.
He also appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and other government leaders to reflect on the implications of such actions, particularly their potential to damage the legacy of democratic governance.
“Even the president, seen as a godly and principled man, must not allow the recalcitrance of a few to derail the democratic path we’ve charted. He must resist any compulsion to act outside democratic norms,” Amoah added.
Addressing party supporters, Dr. Amoah urged calm and restraint, advising them not to retaliate or disrupt public peace. “This is not a time for chaos. We must respect the law and pursue justice the right way. Our differences in political ideology must not make us enemies. We are one people with a shared destiny,” he said.
In a closing appeal, the Nhyiaeso MP the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NPP to safeguard Ghana’s democratic gains. “Let us not destroy what has taken us decades to build. We must feed democracy with equity, justice, and fairness. That’s the only way to move forward as a nation,” he pleaded.
Source: www.starrfm.com / Isaac Justice Bediako
