Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate contesting the 2024 parliamentary election in the Awutu Senya East constituency of the Central Region, has been released from police custody.
Naa Okunor was arrested and detained by the police on Friday, June 7, and was released the following Saturday morning.
The police have not issued any public statements regarding the arrest. The NDC has called for an immediate press conference to address the situation.
The initial disclosure of Okunor’s detention came from the NDC’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi. Gyamfi highlighted that the police provided no explanation for her arrest and detention, characterizing it as an attempt to silence the NDC.
Supporters of the NDC gathered at the Cantonments Police Station in Accra, where Okunor was detained.
Naa Koryoo released after hours in police detention #CitiNewsroom pic.twitter.com/G6wQs8FQ59
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) June 8, 2024
On Sunday, June 2, 2024, the Ghana Police Service announced the arrest of three individuals, including Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, for possessing a firearm without lawful authority. They were apprehended while traveling in a Honda CRV near the Electoral Commission Office at Ofaakor. A pump-action gun with four rounds of ammunition was seized during the arrest.
In an interview on Wednesday, June 5, Okunor clarified that she was invited by the police and not formally arrested. She maintained that the firearm found in her car was legally licensed and was obtained for self-protection against the incumbent NPP MP and Minister for Fisheries, Hawa Koomson. Okunor alleged that the police had failed to protect her during previous altercations with the MP, where she was attacked and gunshots were fired.
Before Okunor’s arrest related to firearm possession, a clash between NDC and NPP supporters occurred at the EC’s office in Ofaakor during the ongoing votes transfer exercise. This altercation resulted in the stabbing of Ato Koomson, the son of the incumbent MP and Minister for Fisheries, Hawa Koomson. The suspect involved in the stabbing has also been arrested and detained.
It remains uncertain whether Okunor’s subsequent arrest is linked to the stabbing incident or solely related to the firearm possession charge.