The Deputy Director of Elections and IT of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko Computer, has rejected claims that the continued detention of Salomey Awiti Baffoe is part of a government strategy to divert public attention from ongoing concerns over narcotics trafficking.
According to him, Ms Baffoe’s case must be allowed to follow due process, insisting that the government would not interfere in the work of the judiciary or security agencies.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Thursday, September 24, Mr Tanko Computer said attempts to link Ms Baffoe’s detention to the narcotics controversy amounted to an effort to evade accountability under the law.
“You see, they rather want to divert attention by trying to run away from the law. The law is the law. They want to run away from the law,” he said.
His comments followed allegations by the Second Deputy Minority Whip and Weija-Gbawe MP, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, who described Ms Baffoe’s continued detention as a “facade” intended to divert public attention from ongoing narcotics trafficking cases.
The High Court on Thursday denied a bail application filed on behalf of Ms Baffoe after the prosecution argued that she was still required to assist with ongoing investigations.
The court said the investigation was cyber-related and that her release at that stage posed a real risk of interference with witnesses. It subsequently directed the Republic to expedite its investigations.
Mr Tanko Computer said the NDC would not support attempts to undermine state institutions in the name of political controversy.
“We won’t say because of these things that they are doing, we should fold our arms and allow them to allow the country to descend into an abyss. We won’t allow it,” he said.
He maintained that the government would allow the relevant state institutions to carry out their responsibilities without political interference.
“And then the law, it must work. We will not allow anybody to interfere in the execution of the law. And that is what the government will not do,” he added.
Mr Tanko Computer also defended the NDC government’s position on judicial independence, saying the party would not interfere in the work of the courts.
“The NDC, we will not interfere in the judiciary. Look, we are noted for not interfering in the judiciary, unlike their time,” he said.
“The NDC under the watch of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama will not interfere in the judiciary when they are carrying out their exercise. We won’t do it,” he added.
He further called on security agencies to be allowed to conduct their investigations, warning that persons invited to assist with investigations could face further action if they failed to cooperate.
“And then the security agents must be allowed to do their work. We can’t interfere in whatever they are doing. If you are invited to come and answer questions and you are running away from the law, you expect them to leave you. They will hunt you down,” he said.
