<<Print>>The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned the continuous detention of the three South African ex-Police Officers by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), describing it as an affront to the constitution.
The three, Chris Hazis, 54, also known as Major Ahmed Shaik (rtd); WO/Denver Dwayhe Naidu (rtd), 39; and Captain Mlungiseleli Jokani (rtd), 45, were picked up last week at the El Capitano Hotel at Agona Duakwa in the Central region and accused by the BNI of engaging in activities that undermine national security.
They have been charged with false declaration and unlawful training and put before the Accra Circuit court last Thursday.
Although they were granted bail of GHS 20,000 each with sureties, the BNI still kept them in its custody.
The situation has angered the NPP, which has accused the BNI of promoting lawlessness and showing contempt for the judiciary.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the NPP, Ishmael Ashietey, said the posturing of the BNI was aimed at intimidating the party ahead of the November polls.
“This is certainly not in a democratic state like Ghana. These are the very hallmark of a Police state. Ghana has become a caricature of a state in the eyes of the international media and the diplomatic cycle” he said, asking Ghanaians to rise up against what he described as injustice.
Mr Ashietey said: “Ghanaians must not sit unconcerned; the NPP will not certainly sit down and allow the democratic gains made by gallant patriots like Akufo-Addo over the last decades to be eroded under the corrupt, heartless and incompetent leadership of John Mahama.
“For the BNI and any other Police institution for that matter to have the liberty to disobey the lawful orders of a court which has the constitutional powers to protect our freedom is a serious assault on our constitution, democracy and security as a people.
The NPP has denied that the three South Africans are mercenaries brought in to undermine national security.
According to the party, the men were brought in to train 15 members of the party in various security drills, including unarmed combat, weapon handling, VIP protection techniques, and rapid response manoeuvres.
Meanwhile, the BNI has released Captain Edmund Koda (retired), head of the security detail of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Captain Koda had been in BNI custody since Thursday over his alleged role in the invitation of three retired South African police officers to allegedly train security personnel of the party.
But apparent ill-health compelled the BNI to release him on compassionate grounds.