John Dramani Mahama, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, has urged the Ghana Police Service to free Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the party’s detained parliamentary candidate for the Awutu Senya East Constituency in the Central Region, as soon as possible.
On Friday evening, June 7, Mahama posted on Facebook, saying, “For the sake of justice and the stability of our nation, I urge the IGP to urgently reconsider his actions and release Naa Koryoo immediately.”
Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer for the NDC, broke the initial news of Madam Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor’s arrest. Mr. Gyamfi claims that the police have not provided an explanation for Madam Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor’s arrest or subsequent detention.
He characterised the development as an attempt to stun the NDC in a post on his social media site.
Sammy Gyamfi elaborated, saying, “Her offence is just that a weapon (gun) was discovered in her car.” Her name is on file for the aforementioned weapon. The required registration paperwork has been delivered to the police.
“Naa Koryoo has not fired a gun or any weapon, in contrast to Hawa Koomson, who did in fact fire a gun at a registration centre in 2020. However, the police are determined about holding her.
He called on all party members to swarm the Accra Cantonments Police Station, the detention facility for Naa Koryoo Okunor.
“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,” stated Mr. John Mahama, the party’s 2024 flagbearer and former president, in a statement released to the public regarding the arrest.
The National Security Secretariat’s directive to take this measure will unnecessarily cause tension and a rise in the political temperature in the nation.
The nation’s peace and stability cannot be jeopardised by the Police Service and the IGP, especially in the months leading up to important national elections.
Justice is not just a moral requirement, but also a vital precondition for preserving peace and stability in a country, and I urge on the IGP, the Peace Council, the government, and the people of Ghana to acknowledge this.