Franklin Cudjoe, President of the policy think tank IMANI Africa, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, to urgently investigate claims made by Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye, regarding threats to his life.
According to reports, Abronye has written to various embassies in Ghana seeking political asylum, citing an imminent threat to his personal safety. He claims he can no longer remain in Ghana due to escalating risks tied to his political stance and criticisms of the government.
In his statement, Abronye asserted that he was the first opposition politician to be arrested and detained by the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) following public criticisms of the government’s mass termination of over 150,000 public sector workers. During his detention, he alleges he was threatened and warned to desist from criticizing the government or face more severe consequences.
Describing these events as part of a broader pattern of political repression, Abronye claims he has since been harassed through threatening calls and messages from individuals he links to the ruling party. One of the most alarming incidents involved a phone call from someone identifying himself only as "Mr. Seth," who claimed to be acting on behalf of the IGP. The caller allegedly ordered Abronye to report to the National Police Headquarters over accusations of "insulting and disrespecting" the IGP. He further warned Abronye that failure to comply would result in fatal consequences.
Upon inquiry by his legal team, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) reportedly stated that no official complaint or investigation had been initiated against him. The individual claiming to be an investigator allegedly maintained his threat, stating ominously: “Tell that boy that if he refuses to come and we pick him up, he won’t come back to life.”
In his asylum request, Abronye cited several international legal frameworks, including:
- The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- The 1969 OAU Refugee Convention
- UNHCR Guidelines on International Protection
He emphasized that his application is grounded in established international instruments that protect individuals with a well-founded fear of political persecution and prohibit forced return to dangerous conditions (non-refoulement).
Copies of his application were sent to multiple international bodies and diplomatic offices, including the UN Resident Coordinator's Office, UNHCR Ghana, UNDP Ghana, and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). He has also appealed to the embassies and high commissions of Canada, the UK, Germany, the USA, Côte d'Ivoire, Spain, France, and Italy.
In response, Franklin Cudjoe posted on social media urging the IGP to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves. His statement read:
“I humbly call on the IGP to ensure that Abronye’s claims of threats on his life are investigated thoroughly and promptly.”
Cudjoe emphasized that such allegations, especially those involving the misuse of state security apparatus for political intimidation, must not be taken lightly in a democratic society.
Source: MyNewsGh.com
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