Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Efutu Constituency arrested over alleged forgery of nominees’ signatures

The Winneba Divisional Police Command has detained Louisa Buabeng, an independent parliamentary candidate in the Central Region's Efutu Constituency.

The candidate, who was requesting an injunction on the December 7 legislative elections after accusing the Electoral Commission of disclosing her candidacy paperwork to the public, was taken into custody right away following court hearings at the Winneba High Court.

Judge Her Ladyship Justice Marriam Agyeman Gyasi Jawhary was alerted to the nearly chaotic situation caused by the heavily armed police officers' storming of the court grounds. She ordered the police to stop the arrest process, emphasizing that such actions reflect poorly on law enforcement.

The police team escorted the candidate's car to the command immediately following the court, despite her orders for the police to use restraints and rely on the candidate's attorney to transport her to the station later.

Although no particular charges have been brought against her, the candidate's attorney, Jennifred Maurice Adjei, has informed us that someone has petitioned the police command on allegations that the independent candidate obtained one of her candidates' signatures fraudulently.

Since the candidate has been cleared and is already on the ballot, the attorney feels that this is insufficient justification for holding her. The incumbent NPP MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the NDC PC Dr. James Kofi Annan, and the arrested independent PC Louisa Buabeng are all running in the parliamentary election.