Armed military forces, police officers, and plainclothes security guards raided former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta’s home early on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, in a startling act of state-sanctioned intimidation.
This blatant assault is a direct assault on democracy and the rule of law.
Despite requests for a warrant from Mr. Ofori-Atta’s on-site security team, witnesses say the armed individuals forced their way into the residence with force, ransacked the property, searched every area, found nothing, and then left.
With military support, this lawless operation marks a troubling turn toward authoritarian methods, where political witch hunts are disguised as security measures and physical force takes the place of due process.
The utmost hypocrisy is that such an incident would take place under a government that formerly vigorously opposed the use of military force for political ends.
The same authorities who accused the opposition of military intimidation are now acting recklessly with state authority.
This hostile takeover is not governance; rather, it is reminiscent of regimes that profit from repression and terror.
It is unacceptable to use armed troops carelessly in what amounts to a political witch hunt. It reveals a perilous mentality that views opposition leaders as enemies who should be intimidated into submission and views power as an entitlement.
As long as this anarchy persists, no citizen will be protected from capricious state aggression.
This raid, which was conducted in broad daylight, is a shameful misuse of authority and a sign of the direction this government is prepared to go. A democracy cannot flourish in a setting where political opponents are pursued in the dark, or, in this instance, in the bright light of the morning.
Before it becomes the norm, it is imperative that all Ghanaians who value democracy denounce this egregious infringement of their rights.
The government was well aware that Ken Ofori-Atta was abroad for medical treatment, which makes this lawless action all the more alarming.
It is significant to remember that he asked the then-chief of staff for permission to fly abroad for medical treatment even before the handover.
Following the transfer of power, he wrote to the current Chief of Staff to let him know that he was abroad for medical reasons.
As a result, the government cannot pretend to be unaware of his whereabouts; hence, it is illegal for them to raid his home when they were well aware that he and his spouse were abroad without any arrest or search warrants.
Source: newsthemegh.com