Sammy Gyamfi with the chairman of the NDC
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday arrested National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, for allegedly forging and publishing false documents about the government.
He was picked up by plain-clothes personnel from the CID Headquarters in front of United Television (UTV) in Accra after he had participated in a programme; he was whisked away in a pickup vehicle.
Sammy Gyamfi has been under investigation since December last year over alleged cybercrime offences.
After spending close to four hours in the hands of the police, the national communications officer was cautioned for possessing forged documents and publication of forged news after which he was granted bail with two sureties and also directed to report himself every week.
NDC lawyers who trooped to the CID Headquarters in Accra to solidarize with him included Tony Lithur, Marietta Brew Appiah Oppong, Abraham Amaliba, Dr. Aziz Basit Bamba, among others.
Other national executives who were also present were the National Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, George Opare Addo, National Youth Organizer, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, spokesperson for former President John Mahama, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah and others.
Upon his release, Sammy Gyamfi spoke with some supporters of the party who had gathered in front of the CID Headquarters.
He told the supporters that he was ‘innocent’ of all the charges levelled against him and urged them to remain claim while they go through the process.
George Opare Addo told DAILY GUIDE later that “when we got there, his statement was taken and they requested to have his phone but we argued that since there is an injunction on the police over the issue, they must use court order to get the phone.”
He also said “this is an abuse of the process because we are in court and we expect that the police will respect the orders of the court. Sadly, ever since our lawyers filed the application restraining the police, it is on record that the police have not even entered appearance to warrant his arrest again.”
Meanwhile, a police source has said that Sammy Gyamfi declined to answer questions posed to him by the police personnel.
The source said as a result, the police asked him give out his statement before his release which he did.
Sammy Gyamfi’s last trip to the Police Headquarters in honour of an invitation on December 23, 2019, was rescheduled by the CID.
He reportedly then filed a suit at the Accra High Court asking for his arrest warrant to be overturned.
The Cyber Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department invited the suspect for questioning pertaining to a cybercrime complaint filed against him by a complainant from Jubilee House, the seat of government.
The Director in charge of the unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr. Gustav Herbert Yankson, when contacted at the time, said the invitation was extended to Sammy Gyamfi to assist in a cybercrime issue.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey
(lindatenyah@gmail.com)