The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye DC, has been apprehended for making false claims about a coup.
He alleged that former President John Dramani Mahama was planning to topple the incumbent government, which was found to be untrue.
Consequently, the vociferous member of the NPP who appears regularly on media platforms to defend the government has been charged on two counts of publication of false news and offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace.
In a press release dated Tuesday, 15 February 2022, which was signed by the Public Affairs Officer of the Accra Regional Police, DSP Juliana Obeng, the police said, “preliminary investigation has established that his claims against former President [John Mahama] are untrue and likely to occasion a breach of the peace.”
The police added that he has been detained and will be arraigned on Wednesday, 16 February 2022.
The law enforcement agency further urged the populace to be circumspect in public pronouncements “since anyone who falls foul of the law will be taken through the due process of the law”.
The police had invited him to appear at the Accra Regional Police Command at about 4 pm on the same day.
Abronye DC is reported to have gotten to the station before time, following the police invitation.
He was, however, arrested and put behind bars after interrogations.
Abronye DC is reported to have made the claims on Accra-based Hot 93.9 FM while reacting to the arrest of #FixTheCountry convener, Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor.
On Wednesday, 9 February, Oliver Barker-Vormawor took to social media to threaten a coup following pictures emerging from the 65th birthday party of the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
The MP for Suame celebrated his birthday with an ‘E-levy’-designed cake.
A section of Ghanaians, including the #FixTheCountry Movement, have kicked against the proposed 1.75% Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy).
Infuriated by the celebrations, Mr Barker-Vormawor took to social media to pour out his reactions.
“If this E-levy passes after this cake bullshit, I will do the coup myself. Useless Army!” he posted on Facebook.
Previous comments about Mahama
This is not the first time Abronye DC has been cited for such comments against Mr Mahama.
On 6 May 2021, ex-president Mahama reported Abronye to the police for alleging that he had plans to kill some leading members of the NPP.
Mr Mahama lodged a complaint through his lawyers, LithurBrew Company.
“His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, has firmly instructed me to say that the allegations are, of course, false; and for the avoidance of doubt would like to state that neither the NDC nor he has planned to hire, hired or cause to be hired, or instructed any person or persons to murder or assassinate anybody,” a petition to the police said.
Subsequently, Abronye was invited for questioning over the matter.
