Veteran journalist Erastus Asare Donkor condemns politicization of Miracles Aboagye’s arrest, warns against culture of impunity

Veteran investigative journalist Erastus Asare Donkor has delivered a scathing rebuke of what he describes as the dangerous politicisation of the arrest of Dennis Miracles Aboagye, warning that the tendency to equate law enforcement actions with political witch-hunting undermines the rule of law and exposes a deep-seated lack of patriotism among Ghanaians.

Mr Aboagye, a spokesperson for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2028 presidential candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD), was arrested over the weekend at the Kotoka International Airport by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). The arrest is linked to investigations into the alleged misappropriation, diversion and theft of approximately GH¢55 million in public funds during his tenure at the IMCCoD between August 2022 and February 2025.

The arrest has sparked protests from NPP supporters who gathered at EOCO’s headquarters on Monday, demanding his immediate release. Party officials have characterised the arrest as politically motivated, with some accusing EOCO of acting under political influence.

However, Mr Donkor, an Assisting News Editor with the Multimedia Group known for his investigative reporting on illegal mining and environmental degradation, has condemned the narrative. In a passionate statement, he argued that while Mr Aboagye is entitled to the presumption of innocence and all the rights available to suspects, mobilising to frame his arrest as a political witch-hunt is “not only foolish, it’s highly unpatriotic and smacks of ignorance and backwardness.”

“Nobody is above arrest in this country,” Mr Donkor asserted, drawing a sharp contrast with public reactions to previous high-profile arrests. He recalled that when Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, was arrested over allegations that his company Akonta Mining was polluting the Tano River and engaging in illegal mining in the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve, “people still massed up and demanded his release.” He lamented that the public showed little concern for the environmental destruction but instead rallied behind someone he accused of having “raped the country.”

The journalist’s comments reflect a growing frustration with what he sees as a national culture that prioritises partisan loyalty over accountability. “We don’t love this country,” he declared, pointing to the stark contrast between the development of Accra and the neglect of rural areas. He criticised the poor quality of public infrastructure, noting that roads constructed for the people are built with “bitumen likeable to a slim pancake.”

Mr Donkor further challenged the hypocrisy of Ghanaians who rush to defend public figures when they are called to account for their stewardship. “When people are arrested to account for their stewardship we turn it into a political witch hunt,” he said. “Everything is politics in this country!”

He drew a pointed comparison with developed nations, asking rhetorically: “We all want to travel abroad, do you see those people doing the kind of things we do in country?”

His intervention comes as Mr Aboagye has reportedly been granted bail in the sum of GH¢50 million with three sureties, a condition his lawyers have described as difficult to meet. EOCO has stated that the investigations are being conducted professionally and impartially, while the NDC government has denied allegations of political targeting.

Mr Donkor’s remarks serve as a stark reminder of the broader consequences of a political culture that places party interests above national interest, and the urgent need for Ghanaians to demand accountability regardless of political affiliation.