Go to hell - NDC tells CID

The National Chairman for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo has declined an invitation from the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) as part of investigations into recent spate of kidnappings and market fires.

The invitation, according to Samuel Ofosu Ampofo’s lawyers, amounts to “political harassment” and “intimidation”.

The CID summoned Mr Ofosu Ampofo, over fresh allegations that he may be connected to recent kidnapping cases as well as market fires recorded in some parts of the country.

However, Communications Officer for the party, Sammy Gyamfi, on Wednesday had given indications that their chairman will not honour the invitation from the police.

The NDC Chairman is already standing trial before an Accra high court for conspiracy to assault a public officer and conspiracy to cause harm after he was secretly recorded allegedly outlining plans to cause mayhem.

His accomplice, Kwaku Boahene, who is Deputy Communications Officer for the party, is facing similar charges, a charge his lawyers have filled an alibi against.

But lawyers for Ofosu Ampofo, Ayine & Felli, in a response to the CID letter stated “our we are unable to resist the conclusion that your invitation and so-called kidnappings, arson and other crimes, is collateral to the on-going criminal trial, and that its purpose is partly to prejudice our client’s defence.”

The lawyers of the NDC National Chairman questioned the reason to mount a charge it had previously dropped against their client.

“The charges against them arose out of investigations your office claims to have undertaken into certain voice recordings after the violence-ridden Ayawaso West Wuogon bye-elections.

You would recall that when your office claimed to have “intercepted” a tape, our client, upon honouring your invitation, was arrested and interrogated for several hours by your investigators on suspicion of having committed the offence of kidnapping, among others. Realizing that the statements contained in the unconstitutionally obtained tape could not sustain the charge of kidnapping against our client, your office immediately dropped that charge.”

It said the party chairman is not under arrest for the alleged offences, and that he is “legally entitled to decline your invitation. We have therefore advised him accordingly.”

The letter to the Director-General of the CID, Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah which is also copied to the Inspector-General of Police, David Asante Apeatu indicated that “ our client has instructed us to make it abundantly clear to you, which we hereby do, that he is a politician, and as the National Chairman of National Democratic Congress, the largest opposition party in the country, he and his party leadership and members cannot help but notice the failing security situation in the country since the present government took office.”

It adds that “Your invitation, its tone and insinuations, is simply an attempt to “pass the buck”, and shift the blame over the increasing inability of the security agencies, including your outfit, to manage and control the failures of security and the governance structures of the country as a whole. Looking for scape-goats would not improve the situation. Accept, Madam Director-General, the assurances of our highest consideration.”

But, addressing a gathering at Jamestown, Accra on Wednesday, as part of his tour of coastal part of the country, flagbearer of the party and former President, John Dramani Mahama, described the allegations for which his party chair has been invited, as “useless” in a response

Mr. Mahama also cautioned the governing New Patriotic Party against setting the precedent where state security agency as the Police Service, will be used to “harass” the opposition political party.