Arresting Sammy Gyamfi Disappointing – Lawyer

Edudzi Tamakloe, lawyer for Sammy Gyamfi, the Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says he is disappointed at the arrest of his client.

Mr. Gyamfi has been arrested in connection with his alleged involvement in forgery and attempts to spread false information to cause fear and panic in the country.

He was picked up at the premises of Accra-based UTV at Abeka Junction on Monday, January 27, 2020.

But speaking to Citi News, moments after the arrest, Edudzi Tamakloe described the incident as unlawful and one that suppresses the rights of his client.

“As you are aware, based on the instruction of Sammy Gyamfi, we caused a human rights application to be filed. While an application is pending, an application for injunction was subsequently filed. I have personally followed up with a letter to the Police. I met the one in charge of cybercrime in his office and delivered the letter to him. He indicated to me he will consult the legal department and respond to me appropriately on the request that we made before the Police. From the time we sent the letter to the Police to date, the Ghana Police has never responded. That is the regrettable low that the Akufo-Addo administration has taken the law to.”

“They are yet to file a response to the human rights application and application for injunction…The Police itself is acting lawlessly…The Ghana Police is becoming pathetic. I am disappointed. When it comes to the rule of law, it is about all of us. When issues about respecting the rights of people come up…It is something that affects all”, he added.

Background

Mr. Gyamfi's arrest comes weeks after he turned down an invitation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) after he sued to stop the police from examining his phone records and gaining access to his Facebook account.

Mr. Gyamfi filed the lawsuit at the Accra High Court, demanding an injunction on an earlier court warrant by the Kaneshie District Court for the seizure of his electronic gadgets.

He argued in the suit that the police “failed to establish any legal basis to have access to the Applicant's phone records when it failed to show any probable cause that the Applicant has or is about to commit the alleged crime to justify the revocation of the Applicant's right to privacy and the protection of same.”

He also said the police are yet to provide the document he allegedly forged “and any evidence of the said forgery.”

The forgery claims are said to have been made by the Jubilee House.

However, Mr. Gyamfi noted that the claims have not been attributed to any particular individual at the Jubilee House.

---citinewsroom