The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has condemned the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over what he describes as the unwarranted arrest and detention of former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni.
In a strongly worded statement, he said:
“I have become aware of the unwarranted arrest and incarceration of the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) yesterday, 5th May, 2026.”
According to him, the arrests followed what he described as a weak prosecution that had already been exposed in court.
“The needless and face-saving arrest followed one year of arraignment of the two accused persons with 3 others in court on charges whose weakness and frivolity were exposed by defence counsel through objections raised and upheld by the court at the Case Management Conference held in the course of the trial.”
He further criticised the Attorney-General’s handling of the case, alleging procedural breaches during the trial.
“The Attorney-General, in response to the objections raised and in a bid to boost the weak prosecution he had initiated, attempted to introduce fresh witness statements without leave of the court, contrary to the rules governing the conduct of criminal proceedings in the Republic.”
He added that after objections by defence counsel led by Godfred Yeboah Dame were upheld, the Attorney-General withdrew all charges.
“When an objection was raised again by defence counsel led by Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame and same was upheld by the court, the Attorney-General’s next move was to withdraw all the charges against the accused persons.”
Despite this, he accused EOCO of acting hastily by re-arresting the couple.
“However, in an impulsive and knee-jerk reaction, EOCO re-arrested Mr. Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife for offences unknown to even his legal team and whisked them off to the EOCO office.”
He also raised concerns about due process and access to legal representation.
“Strangely, they have been refused bail and have been kept in custody since yesterday, even though they were on bail granted by the court just before the charges were withdrawn. Hanan’s lawyers, who were at the offices of EOCO from about 11 am until 8 pm last night, were denied access to him.”
The Minority Leader described the actions of EOCO and the government as a threat to Ghana’s democracy.
“I find the conduct of EOCO, the Attorney-General and the Government as a whole, in harassing and torturing these innocent citizens of the land in the manner described above, very shameful, reprehensible and most unworthy of a healthy democracy that Ghana has struggled to build the past 33 years.”
He accused the government of using law enforcement as a political tool.
“The law enforcement processes should be deployed to deal with actual wrongdoing in accordance with due process and not utilised as a propagandist machinery for the Government by arresting and detaining leading members of the opposition as a way of purporting to give meaning to the Government’s failed ORAL promise.”
He also referenced a previous press conference by the Attorney-General.
“I take note that the Attorney-General held a massive press conference last year, cited the Buffer Stock case as a major example of the ORAL drive, and vilified these same accused persons as having stolen money from the State when he had not even filed any charges against them.”
He described the re-arrest as an attempt to justify earlier claims.
“EOCO’s move in rearresting the accused persons after charges had been withdrawn… is clearly a desperate attempt to save the face of the Attorney-General and sustain a false impression of a continuation of the Government’s failed ORAL promise.”
The Minority Leader also called out EOCO’s leadership.
“The EOCO boss, Raymond Archer, must learn to operate in accordance with due process like his predecessors used to do. That important institution of State must not be turned into a rogue outfit for harassing and torturing innocent citizens extra judicially…”
He concluded with a call for immediate action.
“I call on EOCO and the Attorney-General to release Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni immediately. This impunity must stop.”
