Adenta Kumi’s arrest at this time unnecessary — Oliver Barker

Ghanaian social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has condemned the arrest of New Patriotic Party (NPP) member Alfred Kumi, popularly known as Adenta Kumi.

Kumi was allegedly arrested by officials of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) in the early hours of Friday, May 23, in what has been described as a “Rambo-style” operation.

In a Facebook post the same day, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, criticised the arrest, describing it as a threat to free speech.

“About three hours ago, Alfred Ababio Kumi, popularly known as Adenta Kumi, was picked up at his residence by eight armed men believed to be officers of the National Intelligence Bureau. Six of them were masked and wielding AK-47s,” he wrote.

“These Rambo-style actions by government continue to raise concerns that bother on free speech and good governance,” he added.

Responding to the MP’s post, Barker-Vormawor, who has previously faced arrest under similar circumstances, stated, “This arrest at this time was unnecessary.”

Although the reason for the arrest has not been officially communicated, Kumi recently petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to dissolve the five-member committee probing calls for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

In the petition, Kumi claimed to have intercepted a video allegedly showing Justices Pwamang and Adibu-Asiedu, along with Supreme Court Justice Yonny Kulendi, dining and discussing the matter with Thaddeus Sory, counsel for petitioner Daniel Ofori, at Santoku Restaurant in Accra’s Airport Residential Area on May 15, 2025—shortly after the committee’s inaugural sitting.