Our Chairman was at the CID on 'agreement' not arrested – NDC

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has revealed that the purported arrest of its National Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo was rather an arranged interrogation.

According to the party the details of the NDC Chair’s presence at the CID were agreed before he turned up yesterday.

The CID has in a statement described the NDC Chairman’s presence as an arrest which led to him being granted bail.

The NDC in a statement signed by its General Secretary however said its Chairman was not arrested and described the CID’s statement as unfortunate.

“On Monday, 10th June 2019, the Police CID confirmed to the lawyers of Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo that they had indeed procured an arrest warrant. Subsequently, an agreement was reached between the Police CID and the lawyers of Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo to meet at the No.3 Church Street, North Labone, office of Messrs. Ato Ahwoi and Kwame Peprah, members of the Council of Elders of the NDC. That agreement also stipulated that Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo would be granted bail after an interrogation period not exceeding one hour. In line with the agreement, the Police CID appeared at the agreed location at Tuesday, 11th June 2019 at about 3pm. The police produced an arrest and search warrant issued by an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe dated 22nd May, 2019. In compliance with the court order, Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo, in the company of his lawyers, proceeded with the Police CID to have his residence searched,” the party recalled.

The NDC in the statement revealed that the police kept their part of the agreement until it was time to grant bail to the NDC Chairman as agreed after Samuel Ofosu Ampofo finished writing his statement and officers completed his interrogation.

“It appeared afterwards that the police were reneging on their pledge to grant him bail as previously agreed. The Police CID then said that on the basis of a statement issued by the General Secretary of the NDC, informing the public of the arrest and urging members and supporters of the party to remain calm, they were unwilling to grant bail as agreed. Consequently, this heightened tension in the interrogation room. Finally when calm was restored, Chairman Ofosu-Ampofo was granted bail and informed to return on Thursday afternoon,” the party added.