An independent parliamentary candidate in the Effutu Constituency of the Central Region, Louisa Buabeng, has been arrested by the Winneba Divisional Police Command.
The candidate was apprehended immediately after court proceedings at the Winneba High Court, where she was seeking an injunction against the December 7 parliamentary elections.
Madam Buabeng has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of leaking her nomination documents to the public.
Heavily armed policemen stormed the court, creating a near-chaotic situation that caught the attention of the judge, Her Ladyship Justice Marriam Agyeman Gyasi Jawhary.
The judge ordered the police to halt the arrest process, stating emphatically that such actions tarnish the image of law enforcement.
Although she also ordered the police to exercise restraint and suggested that the candidate’s lawyer should bring her to the station later, the police team still accompanied the candidate’s vehicle to the police command right after the proceedings.
While specific charges have not been pressed against her, the candidate’s lawyer, Jennifred Maurice Adjei, stated that an individual had petitioned the police over suspicions that Buabeng fraudulently obtained the signature of one of her nominees.
The lawyer believes this is not a sufficient ground to detain the candidate, especially since she has already been cleared and is appearing on the ballot.
Louisa Buabeng is contesting the election against incumbent NPP MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin and NDC parliamentary candidate Dr. James Kofi Annan.