FONKAR: Why Is The Presidency Silent On Owusu Bempah's Arrest?

Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (FONKAR) has denounced the continued detention and mental torture of Director of Operations of the group, Ernest Owusu-Bempah, and is demanding for his immediate release in accordance with the rule of law. Owusu-Bempah honored an invitation to the Bureau of National Investigations for the allegation on Wednesday but was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Headquarters for further interrogation and was later charged provisionally for publishing false information meant to cause fear and panic and was detained. But his Lawyers say they are yet to make contact with him after more than 48hours in police custody. In a statement issued in connection with his incarceration, FONKAR said they are even more appalled by the continued silence of the presidency on this matter. "Unless the presidency have a hand in his torture and continued incarceration we do not understand why there has not been a presidential order for his immediate release just like it happened to NPP activist, Nana Darkwa, who accused the NDC founder and former President, Jerry John Rawlings of burning his own residence in 2010," the statement said. FONKAR CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF OWUSU-BEMPAH Friends of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (FONKAR) wish to register its utter disgust at the treatment being meted out to one of our leading members, Ernest Owusu-Bempah since his incarceration by law enforcement agencies on Wednesday. We are aware that the investigators have completed questioning him. What we are not aware of is why he is still being held captive by the security services with a so-called vague charge of misdemeanour and false publication. Our sources have revealed that Ernest Owusu-Bempah should have been released long ago but for orders from the presidency demanding his continuous incarceration for the purpose of teaching him a lesson. We have also been told that he is being put through physical and psychological torture in the hands of the security agencies - a situation that all well meaning Ghanaians must condemn in no uncertain terms. We are even more appalled by the continued silence of the presidency on this matter. Unless the presidency have a hand in his torture and continued incarceration we do not understand why there has not been a presidential order for his immediate release just like it happened to NPP activist, Nana Darkwa, who accused the NDC founder and former President, Jerry John Rawlings of burning his own residence in 2010. We would have expected that if the presidency were genuine and consistent, similar action would have taken place in this situation especially considering that Ernest Owusu-Bempah is also a citizen of this country and an NDC member. We call on all human rights groups and organizations to rise up and speak against the gross violations of the human rights of a lawful citizen of Ghana. We denounce the continued detention and mental torture of Ernest Owusu-Bempah and we demand his immediate release in accordance with the Rule of Law. Signed: Alhaji Mohammed Naziru - 0244285223 Charles Opoku - 0266864815 Clement Gudah - 0548273086