“Afenyo-Markin Is a Hypocrite” — NACOC Deputy Director Fires Shots Over Abronye Case

Lawyer Twum-Barima, Deputy Director of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), has launched a blistering attack on Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, accusing him and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) of hypocrisy over recent criticisms of the judiciary and law enforcement processes.

Speaking on the controversy surrounding the summons of Bono Regional Chairman Kwame Baffoe Abronye, popularly known as Abronye DC, on the Kessben Maakye show in Accra, Lawyer Twum-Barima said the NPP only respects the rule of law when it is in government, but cries political persecution whenever the same laws are applied against its members in opposition.
“Afenyo-Markin is a hypocrite,” he charged. “When the NPP was in power, they demanded strict compliance with the law, but today they are crying foul because the same legal standards are being applied to them.”

The NACOC Deputy Director stated that the Minority Leader was comfortable when political opponents were subjected to legal scrutiny during the NPP administration, but now sees accountability measures as harassment.
“Yesterday he was being pampered like a baby, but now that the tables have turned, he is wailing,” he remarked, adding that “the Bible says do unto others as you want them to do unto you.”

Lawyer Twum-Barima questioned whether Abronye’s position as an NPP Regional Chairman should exempt him from legal accountability.
“Is Afenyo-Markin saying that because Abronye is an NPP Regional Chairman, no law should deal with him when he faults?” he quizzed.

According to him, there is nothing political about an individual being held accountable for allegedly making comments against a judge of competent jurisdiction.
“What is political about being held responsible for indicting a judge? Wrongdoing has no political color,” he stressed.
He further accused the NPP of consistently attacking judicial decisions whenever the party finds itself out of power.
“The NPP cherishes the law when they are in power but rubbishes every ruling when they are out of power,” he alleged.
Lawyer Twum-Barima also referenced several past cases in which public figures were summoned or punished for comments against the judiciary, including personalities such as Sammy Awuku, Sir John, Stephen Atubiga, Ken Korankye, Arko Gann, the “Montie 3,” and others.
He argued that if those individuals were made to face the law, Abronye cannot claim special treatment.
“Hypocrisy is a disease, and the earlier you diagnose it, the better,” he stated.

He, however, cautioned that while citizens must be held accountable for wrongdoing, innocent people should never be harassed under the guise of law enforcement.
“Every voter is more or less a politician irrespective of their position in society, but accountability must apply equally to all,” he concluded.