Nana Kwame Bediako, the leader of The New Force, has disclosed the rationale behind selecting Belgian national Shalimar Abbiusi as the spokesperson for his political movement.
Approximately three months ago, Shalimar publicly revealed her association with The New Force, attracting significant attention primarily due to the mystery surrounding the movement’s founders.
Following this announcement, there arose a sense of curiosity among many, questioning the decision to have a Belgian individual as the spokesperson for a movement aspiring to become the third political force in the country and provide hope to its citizens.
Shalimar Abbiusi
Amidst dissatisfaction and queries, Nana Kwame Bediako, widely known as Cheddar and the leader of The New Force, addressed the concerns during an interview on TV3’s New Day Show on Thursday. He revealed that the choice of Shalimar Abbiusi as the spokesperson came after several unsuccessful attempts to secure a Ghanaian representative.
According to Cheddar, numerous potential Ghanaian candidates declined the role out of fear of potential victimisation by those in power, a factor that led to the selection of Shalimar Abbiusi.
“We tried so many people to be the spokesperson but they were all scared. They didn’t want to use their faces. Many Ghanaians. We were struggling, Alfred.
“Shalimar was a girl who had been in this country for three years. She already worked for GHOne. I only met her at Mepe when we went to do the donation. I met her through Honourable Ablakwa and she asked what she could do when she found out about the movement. Then I said maybe you could speak for us because we are not getting anyone to do it at this point,” he said.
Tragically, Shalimar Abbiusi faced adversity after disclosing her role as the spokesperson for The New Force.
On Monday, December 4, 2023, Ms. Abbiusi was apprehended by officers from the National Investigations Bureau (NIB). The arrest was reportedly based on a lack of evidence to substantiate her work permit, immigration documents, and her association with The New Force.
While initially released, she was later rearrested and marked for repatriation by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).
Shalimar’s repatriation took place on December 19, 2023, aboard Air Brussels Flt. No. SN 319, returning her to her home country. In the wake of these events, she has hinted at revealing the circumstances surrounding her arrest and deportation from Ghana in the near future.
Expressing her sentiments in a Christmas message shared on her social media accounts, Miss Abbiusi expressed gratitude to her supporters while accusing Ghanaian authorities of treating her unjustly.