Yaw Buaben Asamoa, former Member of Parliament for the Adentan constituency, has criticized the Ghana Police Service for the arrest of Hopeson Adorye, a key figure in the Movement for Change. Asamoa insists the arrest is politically driven.
Speaking out against the police action, Asamoa suggested that the arrest was influenced by higher authorities, rather than being an independent decision by the police. “Because if Hopeson has been active and some are uneasy about his statements, this is an attempt to silence him and intimidate the Movement for Change. It won’t work. I strongly believe it’s politically motivated,” he asserted.
Hopeson Adorye’s arrest follows his controversial claim that he detonated dynamites in the Volta Region during the 2016 General Elections. The statement, made during a radio interview in Accra, has since gone viral. Adorye claimed that the explosions frightened residents, leading to a significant drop in voter turnout and ultimately benefiting the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“Prior to the elections, we blasted dynamite in parts of the Volta Region, and that scared a number of people,” Adorye said. He further suggested that this tactic contributed to a lower voter turnout in the NDC stronghold. “After casting my ballot in Tema, I drove to the Volta Region. When I asked about the voter turnout, it was clear people stayed away,” he added.
The allegations sparked widespread condemnation. Prominent broadcaster Kwame Sefa Kayi, host of Peace FM’s Kokrokoo show, was among those demanding Adorye’s immediate arrest and a thorough investigation into his claims.
Currently, Adorye is in police custody and is expected to appear in court soon. During his interview on Accra FM, Adorye mentioned that by 2 p.m. on voting day, the turnout in the Volta Region was significantly low, which he interpreted as a lack of support for the NDC.
As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how these politically charged allegations will impact the broader political landscape in Ghana.