Accra: Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has stated that recent arrests related to political comments were not sanctioned by the government, but rather were independent actions by the police.
According to Ghana Web, Dafeamekpor expressed his views during an appearance on TV3's The Key Points, where he emphasized that these arrests negatively impact the image of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government. He clarified that the government's lack of involvement in these decisions is often overlooked. "I am upset by some of these arrests; it hurts the government. Sometimes government doesn't even sanction them; it's the police," he remarked.
Dafeamekpor urged the government to scrutinize the pattern of these arrests, suggesting that allowing citizens to express themselves would not undermine the administration. He stated, "These things don't detract from the government in any way, so they should allow the people to speak. Let's focus on our mandate and deliver."
He further emphasized that the government is not in favor of detaining individuals over their political opinions. "As a government, we don't want this at all. Arresting people and confining them, it doesn't help us. That is my disclaimer," he added.
The comments from Dafeamekpor came shortly after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) conducted its 'Democracy Under Attack' demonstration on August 6. The NPP organized the protest to advocate for the rule of law, constitutional governance, and democratic accountability. The party has accused the government of political persecution, selective justice, and misusing state institutions, allegations which the government has denied.
Dafeamekpor's statements suggest that, in certain instances, the police may have acted without direct sanction from the government.