'I was beaten mercilessly when I visited Koku Anyidoho in police custody' - Dr Jinapor recounts

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, has recounted how he was allegedly assaulted by police officers when he visited the Police Headquarters in solidarity with former NDC Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho, following his arrest in 2018.

He made this known when Parliament was debating the actions of security agencies, freedom of speech, and its legal boundaries.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on June 9, 2026, Dr Jinapor recalled events surrounding the arrest of Koku Anyidoho and said he personally experienced police brutality when he joined party supporters at the Police Headquarters.

Koku Anyidoho charged with treason

“You recall Koku Anyidoho? That day when I went to the police headquarters, I was beaten mercilessly. I had to run away,” he stated.

He said the incident occurred at a time when President Mahama, then the former president had visited the CID Headquarters to monitor developments following Anyidoho's arrest.

According to him, police officers dispersed supporters who had gathered in solidarity with the then NDC deputy general secretary.

“Let me tell you the truth. I was beaten. I'm not kidding. I went there that evening to show solidarity because then, at that time, President Mahama had gone to the CID headquarters to observe what was happening.

“And when we massed up, I recall, this COP Kwesi Ofori was his name, he came with the men. They started pouring hot water, and they started beating us. I'm being frank with you. I had to run away that day. This is on record. So when I stand here to make this statement that we were beaten, it is true. We were beaten,” he added.

Dr John Jinapor's comments further referenced an incident in May 2018 when former President Mahama condemned what he described as the police's high-handed treatment of NDC supporters who had gathered at the Police Headquarters after Anyidoho's arrest.

The energy minister urged critics not to create the impression that the current administration is suppressing dissent, insisting that freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly.

“So please don't create this impression as if President Mahama has become President, and all of a sudden, heaven has broken loose, and people are arrested left, right, and center. That is not the case.

“I side with the Minority Leader that as Parliament, we should encourage press freedom, we should encourage freedom of speech, but freedom of speech is not tantamount to threatening the President,” he said.

He also rejected claims that the administration of President John Dramani Mahama poses a threat to freedom of speech or press freedom.

Koku Anyidoho was arrested by Delta Force not police – Asiedu Nketia

Dr Jinapor stated that Ghanaians who express themselves within the limits of the Constitution have nothing to fear from the government or state institutions.

“Mr Speaker, let me put on record and let me succinctly, without equivocation, without a shred of evidence, that under President Mahama's administration, there is no threat to freedom of speech, there is no threat to press freedom, and that if you communicate within the ambit of the constitution, you will have no problem with the republic, you will have no problem with the state agencies,” he stated.

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