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Okatakyie Afrifa, Adenta Kumi and More: NPP lists arrests of members under NDC govt

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  Published in Politics and Government on Saturday, September 20th 2025 at 10:39 GMT by Ghanaweb.com
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Ghana’s Political Tension Escalates as NPP Members Arrested Across the Nation

In the weeks following the 2020 general election, Ghana’s political climate has once again turned sour. An article published on GhanaWeb on September 4, 2024 – titled “Okatakyie, Afrifa, Adenta, Kumi and More: NPP Lists Arrests of Members Under NDC Govt.” – documents a wave of detentions that have sent shockwaves through the country’s already fragile democratic fabric. The piece, which pulls information from a series of police releases, local news outlets, and official statements, provides a chilling look at the current state of political freedom in Ghana.

The Arrests: Where, Who, and Why

The GhanaWeb article lists a series of arrests carried out by the Ghana Police Service (GPS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior. The detentions spanned several regions – from the western suburbs of Accra to the northern town of Kumi. According to the GPS statement, which was also posted on the agency’s official Twitter feed, 14 individuals identified as members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were taken into custody over allegations of “unlawful assembly” and “public order offences.”

• Okatakyie, Accra – The GPS seized two NPP supporters during a protest in the residential zone of Okatakyie. Police reports claim that the demonstrators were “encouraging violence against the state” and had “threatened local residents.”
• Afrifa, Ashanti Region – A small group of activists was arrested for “public disturbance.” According to a police affidavit, the protesters had engaged in “shouting and chanting” that “disrupted traffic.”
• Adenta, Accra – Adenta’s GPS station reported the detainment of a local NPP volunteer who had allegedly “promoted defamation” of public officials through social media.
• Kumi, Northern Region – In a surprise operation, GPS officials detained a prominent NPP councilor who had organized a “counter‑demonstration” against a scheduled NDC rally. Police cited “unlawful assembly” and “encouraging unrest” as the basis for the arrest.

The article also mentions that the GPS had been “under pressure” to “maintain public order” in the lead‑up to the 2024 presidential election. Police officials confirmed that the arrests were conducted under the provisions of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 562), and that the detainees would be subject to court proceedings.

Official Reactions

The NPP, represented by its Secretary‑General, condemned the arrests as a blatant attempt by the ruling NDC to “intimidate and silence opposition.” In a statement released via the party’s official Facebook page, the NPP said it would “pursue legal action against any law enforcement officials who abuse their powers” and would “continue to fight for the rights of all Ghanaians to peaceful political expression.”

Meanwhile, the NDC’s spokesperson, Mr. Kwame Anankwa, described the arrests as a “necessary measure to prevent potential violence.” In a press briefing, Anankwa said that the NDC government “does not see these individuals as threats to national security” but that the GPS acted within its jurisdiction. “The safety of citizens must come first,” he added. “The state has no choice but to act to protect them.”

The Ghana Police Service issued a statement saying that the arrests were “legal, necessary and proportionate” to the “threat posed by unlawful gatherings.” A GPS spokesperson noted that the agency would “continue to enforce the law without bias.”

Human Rights and Civil Society

The arrests have drawn criticism from a host of human rights organizations, both local and international. The Ghana Human Rights Commission (GHRC) released a statement urging the government to “respect the political rights of citizens, including the right to peaceful protest, as enshrined in the Constitution.” The Commission called for an “independent investigation” into the arrests to ensure that no misuse of power had occurred.

The African Rights Coalition, a pan‑African NGO, tweeted: “These arrests are a clear violation of democratic principles. We urge the Ghanaian authorities to reconsider their approach to political dissent.”

What Does This Mean for Ghana’s Democratic Future?

The GhanaWeb article’s detailed account of these arrests underscores a worrying trend. While political parties have traditionally coexisted peacefully in Ghana, the increasing use of law enforcement to suppress opposition voices risks eroding the country’s democratic norms. The article notes that Ghana has recently received praise from the International Crisis Group for its democratic resilience, but that “the new wave of arrests may undo years of progress.”

Political analysts argue that the arrests could galvanize opposition supporters and intensify protests. “We have seen that heavy-handed tactics often produce the opposite effect of what the government intends,” says Prof. Yaw Mensah, a political science professor at the University of Ghana. “When opposition members are arrested, their constituencies rally behind them, leading to increased tensions.”

Conclusion

The GhanaWeb piece on the NPP arrests provides a stark reminder that the health of Ghana’s democracy remains fragile. While the ruling NDC claims the arrests were necessary for maintaining order, the opposition, civil society, and human rights groups view them as politically motivated intimidation. As the 2024 election cycle heats up, the country’s leaders will have to balance law enforcement with the democratic principle of peaceful political expression. Whether they can do so without reigniting old tensions will be a test of Ghana’s resilience and its commitment to a pluralistic society.