The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the government and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) of political harassment following the re-arrest of businessman Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife shortly after the Attorney-General withdrew charges against them.
In a statement signed by National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, the NPP described the development as “state-sponsored bullying and ruthless political intimidation.”
The party alleged that the couple’s lawyers have been denied access to their clients for more than 24 hours following the re-arrest.
“Consistent with EOCO’s perennial disrespect for constitutionally guaranteed rights and due process, lawyers of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife have been denied access to their clients after more than 24 hours of waiting,” the statement claimed.
The concerns follow the Attorney-General’s decision to discontinue what had been described as a major prosecution case, popularly known as “The Rumble in the Jungle.”
Despite the withdrawal of the charges, EOCO reportedly re-arrested the couple shortly afterwards, a move the opposition party says raises serious concerns about due process.
According to the NPP, the two had fully complied with their bail conditions since their initial arrest in June last year and therefore posed no flight risk to warrant further detention.
“They therefore pose no risk that justifies their detention overnight,” the statement added.
The party also cautioned against what it described as the misuse of state power, stressing that state institutions must operate within constitutional limits.
“The NDC government must remember that state institutions are temporary custodians of power, not owners of it,” Nana Boakye stated.
He further urged investigative bodies to act in a manner that strengthens public trust rather than undermining confidence in the justice system.
The NPP is therefore calling for the immediate release of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife, insisting that fairness and transparency must guide the judicial process.
“The Republic gains nothing when investigative bodies appear more interested in spectacle and psychological pressure than in transparent and lawful prosecution,” the statement added.
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