Wrongful Detention Of 13 Sympathisers Of NDC From E/R: Residents Call For President Mahama's Intervention

Residents of Afram Plains in the Eastern Region are urgently calling on President John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership to intervene in the prolonged detention of 13 party sympathisers arrested on murder charges widely deemed politically motivated.  

The group—comprising fishermen and farmers from Mepe, Sokpoe, Tefle, and Bakpa—has been held for nine months at Nima and Cantonment police cells in Accra without substantive evidence.

Locals alleged the arrests, targeting NDC loyalists in Afram Plains South and North, aim to suppress voter turnout ahead of the 2024 elections.  

It was revealed that some double agents and hired informants or snitches were paid to identify the homes of the suspects at midnight.

This has led to their arrest and detention by the police first for three weeks at Donkorkrom, the constituency capital of Afram Plains North and later to Nima and Cantonments police cells in Accra for nine months now.

Identified as Gideon Amedofu (63), Tetteh Avlime Amedofu, Emmanuel Azalu, Thompson Father Amedofu, Moses Awi, Agbesi Amlade, Ernest Amlade, Robert Adator, Bright Waleku, Charles Kaleh, Agbeko Agbodza, Godwin Agbodza, and Alormenyo Sokah, the detainees were seized from villages including Togorme, Kwame Gyamera, and Forifori.  

While five suspects—Emmanuel Azalu, Agbesi Amlade, Ernest Amlade, Moses Awi, and Robert Adator—were granted bail, they remain incarcerated, unable to meet the GH¢20,000 court condition for three months.  

The case hinges on a pistol-related shooting after a football match in a village none of the suspects attended. Residents insist the charges, allegedly orchestrated by Ada Korpe Electoral Area Assemblyman Hon. Nicholas Taklo Tsornyake, are fabricated. Notably, the primary suspect, Fulani herdsman Bruneri Amadu, was arrested separately at Ekye Amanfro.  

“This is pure persecution,” a community leader stated. “We urge Mahama and the NDC to fight for justice and expose this plot to intimidate our voters.”

They were arrested without any serious evidence or proof from Togorme, Kwame Gyamera, Forifori, Sakabo, Avukorfe and Sihu Norfegali.

Sadly, they lamented the long detention of the suspects in police cells has forced many of them to fall sick and that some of them are on the verge of dying. 

"Our health conditions have become very worse and we are experiencing a decline in health with the likelihood of death imminent. So we are appealing to our President John Dramani Mahama to come to our aid because the charges preferred against us are forge.

"We have not committed any murder as claimed by the the Assembly member of Ada Korpe electoral Area, Honourable Nicholas Taklo Tsornyake and his associates. All what the allegations they making against us of murder were certainly false and lies, the suspects have spoken through sources closed to them.

The health conditions of the suspects in the two police cells in Accra, this news outlet gathered have been characterized by a range of physical changes, including increasing weakness, difficulty in breathing, and reduced responsiveness.

Some of the suspects complained of having waist, chest and stomach pains, making them vomit frequently.

Other detainees have reported being starved in their cells, describing experiences of limited or no food, along with other forms of abuse and neglect. 

These accounts often include details of physical violence, lack of hygiene, and other forms of inhumane treatment. 

The innocent people, according to information available to this news outlet are entering the final days or hours of their life if care is not taken.