Security forces in the Ashanti Region have arrested Okatakyie Afrifa-Mensah, a popular broadcast journalist who openly supports the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The police executed the arrest during the internal NPP constituency elections where the victim was contesting. Violent skirmishes broke out at the voting venue over what was allegedly described as irregularities with the voting process. Police officers immediately detained the broadcaster at the scene of the chaos.
Some party members have labeled his arrest and the action of the polices as a targeted attack. They say the state wants to silence vocal figures.
According to multiple reports tension boiled over at the election grounds. Some constituency party officials were fingered for allegedly manipulating the delegates’ album. Afrifa-Mensah, who is known for his advocacy for fairness and justice, defended the rights of the grassroots voters. Police officers moved in quickly and isolated the media strategist. The police in their justification for Afrifa-Mensah’s arrest described his resistance a public disturbance.
Grassroots groups have condemned the police intervention. Some youth organizers of the NPP have also described the arrest a massive overreach. They contend that powerful forces weaponized the state security apparatus. These external forces, according to them, want to settle political scores and also want to choose local executives by force.
Legal representatives arrived at the regional police command amidst angry party loyalists joined the lawyers demanding the immediate release Okatakyie Mensah-Afrifa.
Some senior leaders of the NPP have warned the President Mahama-led administration over what they describe as an unprecedented precedent of pure witchunting of NPP supporters and activists.
