Appiah Stadium’s Arrest -The arrest of National Democratic party communicator Appiah Stadium gained much prominence in the media with various stakeholders drawing different conclusions from the incident.
Appiah stadium was arrested in the Ashanti Region on the afternoon of September 26, after he alleged in a viral audio clip that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo smokes marijuana [wee], a banned substance.
See Also: All You Need to Know About The Founder’s Day Controversy
The NDC activist was immediately handcuffed and transported to the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra to answer questions concerning his claim.
The arrest of the NDC loyalist led to a massive controversy. Being an NDC member, the opposition saw the incident as an avenue to vent their frustrations against the ruling party.
The Ashanti regional branch of the NDC had called on the Police to immediately release their member or face their wrath. The group fumed that Appiah Stadium’s arrest had no basis in law and described the incident as an attempt to suppress free speech.
Scroll down to see how events unfolded.
To Rashid Pelpuo, former minister of state in John Mahama’s administration the arrest of the NDC loyalist was politically motivated.
See Also: How Extortions Have Been Marring Nana Addo’s Free SHS Policy
Mr. Pelpuo bemoaned the manner in which the arrest was effected, as well as how the opposition activist was treated. According to him, the police was over-zealous in their swift arrest of the politician.
Stadium’s actions he said, did not warrant such criminal treatment from the police.
Mr Stadium was later released on police inquiry bail after his arrest for allegedly defaming the President. The NDC activist and serial caller also rendered an unqualified apology to the President for his outburst.
In a media statement, the Information Minister Mustapha Hamid said Mr. Appiah was only blinded by propaganda.
While the fuss was going on, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo informed the police he is “not interested” in the case of an NDC activist who averred he is a “drug addict.”
The President has made it clear he is against any citizen being arrested for allegedly insulting him.
President Nana Addo’s response to the issue has halted all speculations and assumptions of perceived party politics or discrimination in the government.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
