Officers from the Economic and Organised Crime Office on Tuesday, April 14, reportedly raided the Atonsu residence of former Asokwa Member of Parliament and former Managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited, Maxwell Kofi Jumah.
According to the Ashanti Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, Paul Yandoh, the officers presented documents indicating they had authorisation to search the premises but carried out the operation in the absence of Mr Jumah.
“All the keys in this house, they have taken everything. They brought just a sheet with an instruction that they have an instruction from the EOCO boss that they have to come and search Honourable Kofi Jumah’s house,” he said.
Mr Yandoh alleged that the officers seized several items during the operation.
“They have taken all the documents in his room, and then his laptop, and then all the keys to this house,” he stated.
He questioned the decision by the officers to take keys from the residence, saying, “So I asked him, why are you sending the keys? He said that they have to take it. I said, ‘Has he stolen anybody’s building or whatever? They were just not ready to answer that.”
He further criticised the manner in which the operation was conducted, suggesting that established procedures were not followed.
“What has happened to the normal way of inviting people for documents or other things? What has happened to that?” he asked.
Mr Yandoh described the incident as politically motivated.
“I would call it political witch-hunting or political persecution. I don’t think it’s the way to go. When governments change, it doesn’t mean you should subject the other to this kind of criminal attack,” he said.
He warned that such actions could have broader implications for the country’s political environment.
“And power will change. Definitely power will change. And when it changes, nobody should blame anybody for also doing the same. Must it become a crime for someone to serve his country?” he added.
There has been no immediate response from EOCO on the matter.