The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Amenfi East, Ernest Frimpong, has been arrested by the Tarkwa Police Command in the Western Region.
This arrest follows a viral video in which Mr. Frimpong is seen urging miners to attack police officers and soldiers who extort money from them.
Previously, Mr. Frimpong denied allegations that he and the Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, endorsed illegal mining and encouraged miners to resist military personnel. He claimed that his comments were taken out of context from a two-hour engagement with artisanal small-scale miners.
In a statement dated Saturday, June 8, 2024, Mr. Frimpong clarified that the Regional Minister emphasized the importance of responsible mining practices and warned against mining in prohibited areas such as forest reserves and rivers. He also stated that he urged miners to report any instances of extortion and harassment by unauthorized individuals posing as law enforcement officers.
However, Municipal Chief Executive of Wassa Amenfi East, Frederick Korankye, confirmed on Citi FM on Wednesday that the NPP candidate had been arrested.
“I can confirm that Mr Ernest Frimpong is currently [in] police custody at Tarkwa Regional Police Command. In fact, the regional police command placed a call on him on Monday morning but because he was not within the municipality, he had to travel from where he was in Kumasi.”
“So yesterday evening he reported himself and then today as I speak to you now about 30 minutes ago he has finished writing his statement and he is seeking bail. So I can confirm to you that he is at the regional police command at Tarkwa,” he stated.
