On Friday, June 7, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, a candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 parliamentary election for the Central Region’s Awutu Senya East district, was taken into custody by the police but subsequently released.
The following Saturday morning, she was set free.
Regarding the aforementioned arrest, the police did not immediately make any public statements.
To discuss the arrest, the NDC immediately organized a news conference.
According to reports, she was held overnight at Accra’s Cantonments Police Station before being freed around noon on Saturday. The arrest is thought to have been connected to a violent brawl between NDC and NPP supporters at the constituency’s Electoral Commission office during a vote transfer procedure, as well as a gun discovered in her car on Sunday, June 2, 2024. One individual was stabbed at the tumultuous event, which happened after a dispute between the two parties’ observers. Abdul Aziz Musah, Mustapha Mohammed, and Koryoo Okunor were all taken into custody.
They were allegedly caught driving a Honda CRV with the license plate GX 2044-19 close to the Electoral Commission (EC) office in Ofaakor, which is close to Kasoa. The Cantonments Police Station was where she was detained. Reports said that the gun was registered in her name, but there was a misspelling of her name on the registration certificate. The police did not immediately issue an official announcement about the arrest. In response, Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC Communications Officer, said, “the claim of a discrepancy in her first name is totally false.” Reactions to her arrest and detention were mixed, particularly among NDC members, some of whom congregated at Accra’s Cantonments Police Station to call for her release.
They claimed that members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) were engaging in political persecution through the arrest.
How John Mahama responded
The arrest was denounced by former President John Dramani Mahama, who represents the opposition National Democratic Congress.
Mr. Mahama claimed in a statement that the action was causing unneeded friction and unnecessarily increasing the political temperature in the nation.
Thus, he demanded that Naa Koryo be released right away.
“Clearly, the intention to detain her after she had already been granted bail is an attempt to intimidate the NDC parliamentary candidate in her quest to unseat the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hawa Koomson, in the Awutu Senya East Constituency,” stated Mahama.
“I urge the IGP to urgently reconsider his actions and release Naa Koryoo immediately for the sake of justice and the stability of our nation,” he said.
“There is no justification for the decision by the Inspector General of Police George Dampare, on the orders of the National Security Advisor, Albert Kan Dapaah, to detain a parliamentary candidate for the Awutu Senya East Constituency in police custody,” said Mahama.
“This action, taken on the instructions of the National Security Secretariat, will needlessly raise the political temperature in the country and spark avoidable tension.”
“The Police Service and the IGP must not allow themselves to be used to jeopardize the peace and stability of our nation months before crucial national elections,” he said. “In the lead-up to the 2024 elections, we cannot for the police force to be utilized to intimidate political opponents and innocent Ghanaians in order to suppress opposition.
A copy of the complete statement from Mr. Mahama’s office is included below.
Mahama demands the release of NDC PC and denounces her imprisonment.
Ghana’s Accra— Former President John Mahama has criticized the police’s decision to hold Naa Koryoo, the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for the Awutu Senya East Constituency, saying it will increase political tensions and lead to needless confrontation. Mahama demanded Naa Koryoo’s immediate release and urged the government and IGP to acknowledge the role that justice plays in preserving peace and stability.”There is no justification for the decision by the Inspector General of Police George Dampare, on the orders of the National Security Advisor, Albert Kan Dapaah, to detain a parliamentary candidate for the Awutu Senya East Constituency in police custody,” wrote the NDC flag bearer in a full post on Facebook and X.
Following the National Security Secretariat’s directive, this action will unnecessarily increase the nation’s political climate and cause undue friction. Months before important national elections, the Police Service and the IGP must not permit themselves to be utilized to threaten our country’s peace and stability.I urge Ghana’s government, the IGP, the Peace Council, and the populace to acknowledge that justice is not only morally required, but also a vital precondition for preserving national peace and stability. In the lead-up to the 2024 elections, we cannot for the police force to be used to intimidate political opponents and innocent Ghanaians. Her detention after being granted bail is obviously an attempt to frighten the NDC parliamentary candidate, who is running to unseat Hawa Koomson, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, in the Awutu Senya East Constituency. For the sake of justice and national stability, I implore the IGP to promptly reevaluate his actions and free Naa Koryoo.Regardless of political affiliation, it is imperative that the police perform their obligation to serve and protect all residents. #FreeNaaKoryooNow #JusticeForNaaKoryoo
