'Disproportionate' CID handling of Koku 'condemnable' – Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has described the arrest of Koku Anyidoho, Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), by armed police officers, as disproportionate.

He wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday, 28 March that: “As a party that prides itself in the non-criminalisation of speech, with a self-acclaimed human rights activist as president, the arrest of K. Anyidoho with armed men in the middle of a press event is obviously disproportionate. Moreso, the high-handed police response to innocent citizens waiting at the CID HQ is condemnable.”

Koku Anyidoho has been charged with treason for threatening on radio that there will be a civil coup d’etat to topple the Akufo-Addo administration.

He told Happy FM on Monday, 26 March that: “Somebody should tell Nana Akufo-Addo that history has a very interesting way of repeating itself.

“On January 13, 1972 a certain Col. Ignatius Kutu Acheampong led a movement that removed the Progress Party from power. Busia was the Prime Minister and Akufo-Addo’s father was a ceremonial president. Somebody should tell Nana Akufo-Addo that history has a very interesting way of repeating itself.

“There’ll be a civil revolt. There’ll be a people’s movement. During President John Mahama’s tenure didn’t we receive similar threats from the likes of Let My Vote Count and OccupyGhana.”

“There’ll be a civilian coup d’etat; there’ll be a social revolution and the movement is starting on Wednesday. He [Akufo-Addo] will be fed up at the presidency,” Mr Anyidoho said.