A man believed to be an activist of the New Patriotic Party, NPP, has allegedly been arrested by operatives of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), igniting a wave of criticism and calls for his release from members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mohammed Amadou Zakou, a known youth activist is accused of publishing false information regarding Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.
His arrest appears to stem from a short online post he shared on April 4, which read: “REST WELL YOUR EXCELLENCY.”
The post, which many interpreted as implying the Vice President’s death, triggered swift action from National Security, resulting in Zakou’s reported arrest. Authorities have not officially commented on the incident.
However, according to sources close to the activist his post was only wising the ailing vice president well.
Salam Defence
Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organiser of the NPP, was among the first to react publicly, expressing dismay over the arrest. In a Facebook post, he wrote: “Out of Accra, I’m reliably informed of the arrest of Mohammed Amadou Zakou allegedly for inappropriate publication by National Security. Come on, this is a low blow.”
Mustapha, who described Zakou as a “hardworking youth activist” of the party, questioned the necessity and motive behind the arrest.
“I’m not sure he made the said post out of malice. Therefore to arrest is not right,” he argued.
“I still maintain that these arrests are political and unnecessary. Our Veep is alive and well and that is what matters.”
The youth organiser further condemned what he sees as the misuse of state power:
“It’s abuse of powers and an attempt to intimidate the opposition party. This is unacceptable. You can’t invite him and caution? Must everything be brute force?”
In reinforcing his stance, Mustapha drew parallels to a recent security lapse involving a Nigerian national named Ben Peters, who allegedly blocked the entrance of an apartment near the Jubilee House.
“National Security raced there after frantic distress calls but were unable to disarm the goons… It took the President’s brother, Ibrahim Mahama, an unarmed civilian, to de-escalate the situation,” he recounted.
“Yet we can easily pick up citizens like tomatoes without just cause?”
The arrest has since sparked an online campaign under the hashtag #FreeZou, with NPP supporters and sympathisers demanding Zakou’s immediate release.
Many believe the arrest is politically motivated and part of a broader pattern of intimidation.
The former Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, has not yet publicly addressed the incident.
This development raises fresh concerns over freedom of speech and political dissent in Ghana, particularly after President John Dramani Mahama taking over where tensions between the ruling and opposition parties are already high.
–BY Daniel Bampoe
