The Ghana Police Service has arrested the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Amenfi East over recent comments.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Mr Frimpong was seen addressing a forum with individuals believed to be illegal miners, allegedly advising them to resist military officers who claim to be patrolling the area and attempting to forcefully remove them.
Also present at the forum was the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, who also heads the Regional Security Council.
The media is learning that the Parliamentary Candidate wrote his statement at the police station on Wednesday, June 12.
Ernest Frimpong has already denied the allegations, asserting that he did not endorse illegal mining or encourage miners to fight military personnel.
He claimed his remarks were taken out of context from a two-hour engagement with artisanal small-scale miners, emphasising that his intentions were misrepresented.
Speaking on Joy FM's Top Story, the Chairman of the Municipal Security Council for Amenfi East, Frederick Korankye confirmed the arrest.
The MCE added that "he is seeking bail, he went there with a lawyer to grant him a police inquiry bail in the meantime and then maybe he will be reporting himself the next day."
It is unclear yet what charges have been slapped on the aspiring Amenfi East legislator.
Speaking on the same show, Deputy NDC General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande was curious as to why it took this long to arrest Mr Frimpong.
But the Amenfi East MUSEG boss explained that at the time the police incited Mr Frimpong days ago, he was outside the region.
"The meeting happened about two months ago and we were not aware. In fact, security was not aware about the content of the video until it popped up. So when it popped up, I think we saw the video over the weekend. So he was invited on Monday. They placed a call on him on Monday and then yesterday he reported himself to the police."
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) already issued a stern warning against the calls for attacks on soldiers, highlighting the significant threat such actions pose to the nation's security and stability.
However, the MCE does not believe that the candidate's statement has the potential to incite the public against the security service.
According to him, the youth in the district have in recent times demonstrated decorum in the face of adversity and are not likely to create violence of any form.
"In fact, the police service can attest to the fact that Amenfi East people are law-abiding, they have been working with the police and security services because they know the nature of the work we do here, the mining... we have been relying so much on the security services to combat armed robbery," he added.
Credit: myjoyonline.com
