Kofi Akpaloo, Raymond Archer
THE FOUNDER and leader of Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Kofi Akpaloo, has been apprehended and detained by officers of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), according to multiple reports yesterday.
He was said to be in his house at Sokoban, in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, when some men, who claimed to be staff of EOCO stormed there on Wednesday morning to pick him up.
According to a source, who is very close to Kofi Akpaloo, the heavily-built men, initially parked two pickup vehicles close to Akpaloo’s house on Wednesday morning.
The source, who demanded anonymity for obvious reasons, said the men, some of whom were dressed in EOCO uniforms, entered Akpaloo’s house in a Rambo style around 11am.
“They met a lady in the house and asked whether the house was the residence of Kofi Akpaloo, the lady reportedly responded in the affirmative but said Akpaloo was not there.
“They then marched the lady on to the first floor of the house and asked her to show them Akpaloo’s room. The men then broke into the room and nabbed Akpaloo,” the source disclosed.
According to the source, the so-called EOCO staff did not show any notice of arrest, only saying “they are EOCO staff from Accra and they have been ordered to arrest Akpaloo.”
Asked on phone if Kofi Akpaloo had declined an invitation by EOCO in recent times, the source replied that “nobody has invited Kofi Akpaloo, they just came to arrest him.”
The source further indicated that family, friends and party members of the LPG have no idea, with regards to the charges against Kofi Akpaloo, leading to his arrest.
The source said, they were not aware of where exactly they have taken Kofi Akpaloo to, adding that “since they said they are from Accra, I suspect they have taken him to Accra.”
Unconfirmed reports
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports suggest that Akpaloo and his wife were arrested in connection with alleged discrepancies involving a contract awarded by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on September 14, 2018.
The contract, reportedly valued at $1,919,750.82, was for the supply of distribution materials under the intensification project package (F-LOT 1).
Criticism
Kofi Akpaloo is a known critic of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, led by President John Dramani Mahama.
Just recently, he was in the news for openly not showing sympathy for the six government officials and military men who lost their lives in a helicopter crash near Obuasi.
Kofi Akpaloo, who is very outspoken, realising that he goofed for not showing sympathy for the helicopter crash victims, quickly rendered unqualified apologies in the traditional and social media.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah, Kumasi