Miracles arrest: Power is transient, tread cautiously

The General Secretary of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has cautioned the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) against what he describes as the “Rambo-style” arrest of opposition figures, warning that political power is temporary and due process must always be upheld.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, July 13, following the arrest of Dennis Miracles Aboagye, the general secretary alleged that the NPP official had been held by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for more than 48 hours without being interrogated, raising concerns over the manner of his detention.

He argued that the arrest appeared intended to create a public perception of guilt before any legal process had taken place, insisting that no individual should be condemned without evidence being tested in court.

“It is all part of the political tricks to create the impression that because an accountant has admitted to committing a crime, by extension Miracles Aboagye is also guilty. What place does that have in law? It doesn’t make any sense to any of us,” he said.

The NPP General Secretary maintained that while no one should be shielded from accountability, law enforcement agencies must ensure investigations and arrests are conducted in accordance with the law.

“I’ve always said that the NDC government needs to tread cautiously. Power is transient and no condition is permanent. No one is above the law. If someone has committed a crime, it is the duty of the state to arraign that person before a court of competent jurisdiction, but not this kind of Rambo-style behaviour,” he stated.

Kodua further alleged that the arrest formed part of a pattern of intimidation targeting members of the opposition, warning that normalising such practices could have long-term implications for Ghana’s democratic governance.

He also called on the media and civil society organisations to remain impartial and speak against any perceived abuse of due process, regardless of which political party is in government.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has indicated that Miracles’ arrest is linked to ongoing investigations into alleged financial and procurement-related irregularities involving about GH¢55 million during his tenure as Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD).

Miracles was intercepted by immigration officials upon his arrival at the Accra International Airport before being handed over to the agency to assist with investigations. EOCO is yet to announce whether he has been formally charged.