BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has petitioned several foreign embassies and international organizations for political asylum.
He claims his life is in imminent danger due to persistent threats, political persecution, and what he describes as targeted intimidation by state authorities under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
Just two days after his petition, security operatives threw caution to the wind searching for Abroye’s whereabouts.
The search was intensified on Sunday as armed police officers allegedly stormed private residences in what critics describe as a political witch-hunt.
The Bono Regional Chairman of the NPP, who has gone underground, claims he is now being hunted by state security agencies loyal to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Raids In Accra
The latest incident occurred on Sunday when plain-clothed and hooded security operatives descended on the private residence of Moses Abor, a close ally of Abronye and a prominent NPP figure.
Witnesses described the raid as forceful and intimidating, with operatives demanding information about Abronye’s whereabouts.
“They came in numbers, some heavily armed, moving from room to room as if looking for a fugitive. The atmosphere was tense. It was clear they were after Abronye,” a neighbor told reporters.
The action has heightened fears among opposition members who say the government is abusing security agencies to pursue political rivals rather than safeguarding public order.
Petition to Embassies and International Bodies
In a letter dated September 5, 2025, Abronye formally appealed to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, the UNHCR, and the UNDP.
He argued that his case falls squarely within international conventions that recognize the right to asylum for individuals facing persecution.
Background Of Tensions
Abronye’s troubles began soon after the NDC administration assumed office in January 2025.
Known for his controversial and outspoken style, he had been one of the fiercest critics of the new government.
In February 2025, he was arrested and detained for over 13 hours by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) after criticizing what he called the “unjust dismissal” of over 150,000 public sector workers.
During his detention, Abronye alleges he was threatened and warned to stay silent on government policies.
Since then, the NPP regional chairman insists he has been subjected to unrelenting threats — both direct and anonymous — aimed at silencing his political commentary.
Clash With Police Leadership
Tensions escalated after Abronye openly criticized the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, accusing him of ignoring worsening insecurity and ethnic conflicts in northern Ghana while focusing on what he termed “selective arrests” of opposition members.
Following those remarks, he claims he received a menacing phone call from a man who introduced himself as “Mr. Seth,” allegedly acting on behalf of the IGP.
According to Abronye, the caller threatened that if he failed to report to Police Headquarters, he would be “dealt with mercilessly in a way he would not come back to life.”
His lawyers subsequently wrote to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to verify whether any case existed against him.
The CID denied knowledge of any investigation but referred them back to the so-called investigator.
Abronye insists that a confidential police source later tipped him off about a plan to have him secretly brutalized if he appeared at the Police Headquarters.
Pattern Of Opposition Harassment
Abronye pointed to a larger trend of political repression under the NDC government, arguing that opposition figures have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, detentions beyond the 48-hour constitutional limit, and intimidation campaigns.
He described the pattern as a deliberate attempt to instill fear and silence dissent.
“In light of these realities and the direct threats to my life and liberty, I am convinced that both I and my family are in imminent and grave danger,” he wrote in his asylum request.
He expressed faith in the humanitarian values of the international community, stressing that his situation aligns with global standards for asylum seekers.
“I respectfully seek political asylum and security protection in your country. I place my trust in your respected institution to consider my case urgently and to extend the necessary humanitarian assistance and protection,” his letter concluded.
