The legal representative for Madam Louisa Boabeng, an independent parliamentary candidate for the Effutu Constituency in the upcoming December 7, 2024 elections, has expressed grave concerns over her client’s arrest and treatment by the police.
Lawyer Jenifred Morris Agyei, speaking to Alfred Ocansey on Ghana Tonight on November 20, detailed the circumstances surrounding the incident, which stemmed from allegations of forgery linked to Madam Boabeng’s nomination forms.
According to the lawyer, the arrest occurred shortly after court proceedings aimed at obtaining an injunction on the upcoming elections.
The injunction was sought following accusations that the Electoral Commission (EC) leaked Boabeng’s nomination form to third parties, including Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the NPP parliamentary candidate and Majority Leader.
Morris Agyei recounted the unexpected presence of heavily armed police officers outside the courtroom after the proceedings. He initially assumed the officers were there for general security until they attempted to arrest his client.
“They informed us that they were acting on orders from above, citing suspicions of fraud against my client,” Morris Agyei explained. “Despite my efforts to negotiate for a voluntary appearance, the police insisted on immediate action, prompting us to seek the court’s intervention,” he said.
The judge subsequently directed that Madam Boabeng should be invited without an armed escort. Despite these directives, she was later handcuffed, taken to her home for a search, and ultimately detained before being granted a police inquiry bail.
The allegations against Madam Boabeng center on suspicions that signatures on her nomination forms were forged.
However, Morris Agyei criticized the police for acting on what he described as baseless claims.
“The petition accusing my client is built entirely on suspicion without any concrete evidence,” he stated. “These are forms that were vetted and approved by the Electoral Commission yet somehow ended up in the hands of Afenyo-Markin, raising serious questions about the source of the leak.”
Initially, the case was filed against the Electoral Commission for alleged data breaches. However, Afenyo-Markin was joined as a party to the case during proceedings on Monday after the court granted a motion filed by Madam Boabeng’s legal team.
“This development highlights the questionable dynamics surrounding this case, particularly given the involvement of a high-profile political figure,” Morris Agyei noted.
Despite the ordeal, Madam Boabeng has been released, and her legal team is preparing to take further action.
“We will pursue this matter vigorously to ensure justice for my client and accountability for those responsible for these baseless allegations and undue harassment,” Morris Agyei concluded.
This case has sparked heated discussions, with many questioning the implications for electoral transparency and fairness in the Effutu Constituency as the December 7 elections approach.
