NPP protests over Miracles Aboagye's arrest misplaced — Akwatia MP
The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has argued that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) was not legally required to disclose details surrounding the arrest of Dennis Miracles Aboagye to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Miracles Aboagye was arrested at the Accra International Airport on Saturday, July 11, upon his return from a trip abroad.
EOCO has said he and former IMCCoD accountant Gerald Appiah are being investigated over alleged offences including conspiracy to steal, stealing, causing financial loss to the state, money laundering and other financial crimes involving about GH¢55 million.
The arrest triggered reactions from the NPP, with party leadership and some supporters gathering at EOCO's premises to demand his release and criticise the initial failure by the agency to disclose the reason for his arrest.
Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews' AM show on Wednesday, the Akwatia MP said the law does not mandate an investigative body to inform a political party about an ongoing investigation.
"Article 14(2) does not give any obligation to law enforcement agencies to inform any other person of any investigation that is ongoing beyond the provision that says that his lawyer should be permitted to be with him. So if it is his lawyer, it's fine, but not his political party," explained the MP.
Bediako Baidoo, however, stressed that any breach of a suspect's constitutional rights, including denial of access to legal counsel, would be unacceptable if proven to have occurred.
He said Miracles Aboagye, being the person directly involved in the matter, would be in the best position to provide clarity on whether his rights were respected during the period of his detention.
"If it happened, it is unconstitutional, it is illegal. But I'm saying who said what? That's the point I'm making. When things happen like this, I want us to come together and say it as a test, but not take the political lane or angle and make sure that you get a lot of political whatever from it," the lawmaker stated.
The lawmaker also cautioned against rushing to publicise details of arrests, arguing that suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty and excessive publicity could damage their reputation.
Miracles Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, was granted bail of GH¢50 million with three sureties, two of whom must be justified.
He was released after meeting the bail conditions on Tuesday, July 14, and has since denied the allegations of financial irregularities.