Independent parliamentary candidate for the Effutu Constituency in the Central Region, Louisa Buabeng, has been arrested by the Winneba Divisional Police Command on allegations of forging a nominee’s signature on her nomination documents.
The arrest followed a petition filed by an individual to the police, accusing Buabeng of fraudulently procuring the signature of one of her endorsers. However, her lawyer, Jennifred Maurice Adjei, argues that this accusation is baseless, especially as Buabeng has already been cleared by the Electoral Commission (EC) and is officially listed on the ballot for the December 7 parliamentary elections.
Buabeng was apprehended immediately after court proceedings at the Winneba High Court, where she had sought an injunction to halt the upcoming elections. She alleged that the EC had leaked her nomination documents to the public, leading to concerns about the integrity of the process.
Her arrest on the court premises sparked a dramatic scene as heavily armed police officers stormed the area, causing near-chaos.
The incident drew the attention of the presiding judge, Her Ladyship Justice Marriam Agyeman Gyasi Jawhary, who criticized the police’s actions, stating that such displays damage the image of law enforcement.
She ordered the officers to suspend the arrest and instructed them to rely on the candidate’s lawyer to facilitate her appearance at the police station later.
Despite the judge’s directive, the police escorted Buabeng’s vehicle to the command immediately after the court session.
Buabeng’s lawyer maintains that the allegations against her do not warrant detention and emphasizes that she remains a legitimate candidate for the elections.
The Effutu parliamentary race features incumbent NPP MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin, NDC candidate Dr. James Kofi Annan, and independent candidate Louisa Buabeng, whose recent arrest has added another layer of tension to the contest.