Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, a candidate in the 2024 parliamentary election for the Awutu Senya East constituency in the Central Region, running on the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket, was arrested and detained by the police on Friday, June 7, but has since been released.
She was released on Saturday morning.
The police did not immediately publicly comment on the said arrest.
The NDC called an immediate press conference to speak on the arrest.
She was reportedly detained overnight at the Cantonments Police Station in Accra before being released around midday on Saturday. It is believed that the arrest was related to a gun found in her vehicle on Sunday, June 2, 2024, and a violent altercation involving supporters of the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the Electoral Commission office in the constituency, where a vote transfer exercise was taking place. The chaotic incident, which occurred following a disagreement between observers from the two parties, resulted in one person being stabbed. Koryoo Okunor was arrested along with Mustapha Mohammed and Abdul Aziz Musah.
They were reportedly apprehended while traveling in a Honda CRV with registration number GX 2044-19 near the Electoral Commission (EC) office at Ofaakor near Kasoa. She was held at the Cantonments Police Station. Although the police did not immediately provide an official statement regarding the arrest, reports suggested that the gun found was registered in her name, but there was a discrepancy in the spelling of her name on the registration document. However, the NDC Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, countered this claim, stating, “the claim of a discrepancy in her first name is totally false.” Her arrest and detention sparked varied reactions, especially from NDC members, some of whom gathered at the Cantonments Police Station in Accra to demand her release.
Their accusation was that, the arrest was a political persecution being carried out by elements within the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
John Mahama’s reaction
Former President John Dramani Mahama, who is the flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress condemned the arrest.
In a statement, Mr Mahama said the action was needlessly raising the political temperature in the country and sparking avoidable tension.
He, therefore, called for the immediate release of Naa Koryo.
“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,” Mr. Mahama said.
“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 added.
“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,” Mr. Mahama stated.
“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 stated. “We cannot allow the police service to be used to stifle opposition and intimidate innocent Ghanaians and political opponents in the run-up to the 2024 elections.
“Below is a copy of the full statement from Mr. Mahama’s office
Mahama condemns detention of NDC PC & calls for her release
Accra, Ghana— Former President John Mahama has spoken out against the decision by the police to detain the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Awutu Senya East Constituency, Naa Koryoo, calling it a move that will raise political tensions and spark avoidable conflict. Mahama urged the IGP and the government to recognize the importance of justice in maintaining peace and stability and called for Naa Koryoo’s immediate release.Please find below the full post on X and Facebook by the NDC flag bearer:”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.”
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.I call on the IGP, the Peace Council, the government, and the people of Ghana to recognize that justice is not just a moral imperative but a crucial prerequisite for maintaining peace and stability in a nation. We cannot allow the police service to be used to stifle opposition and intimidate innocent Ghanaians and political opponents in the run-up to the 2024 elections.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. 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.It is high time the police fulfilled their duty to serve and protect all citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations. #JusticeForNaaKoryoo #FreeNaaKoryooNow
