Private legal practitioner, Edmond Arhin has stated that Mr Samuel Ofoso Ampofo, National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has no right to refuse an invitation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in carrying out its duty.

Quoting from the law, lawyer Arhin noted that since Mr Ofosu Ampofo’s name has been cited in a crime according to the CID, he has no right to refuse to turn down such an invitation.

“According to the law, if the police invite you to help them in an investigation in that instance, you have the right to decide to go or not to go. But in the instance where you are caught as a suspect you have no right to refuse the invitation”. Lawyer Edmond said in an interview with Silver FM in Kumasi

The Lawyer’s statement comes days after the NDC’s Council of Elders dared the CID to arrest Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo after his name was mentioned in connection with arson and recent kidnappings.

According to them, the latest invitation from the CID to their National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo to appear before it is an attempt by the government to divert attention from the insecurity in the country.

“In our view, this is yet another case of intimidation and harassment being employed by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government using the instrumentality of the police to instill fear in our chairman and supporters of our party and to suppress dissenting voices in the country,” the Council of Elders said in a statement.

But responding sharply to the NDC, Lawyer Edmond Arhin emphasised that if Mr Ofosu Ampofo had been invited as a suspect then he has no right than to honour the invitation however, if he has been called just to help in an investigation then he can decide not to.

The lawyer further added “looking at how the whole matter has gained national interest, Ofosu Ampofo has no option than to go. The police can take a warrant from the court to arrest him if he declines”.

He added that Ofosu Ampofo’s and his NDC’s intentions not to honour the invitation creates the impression that both may be hiding something from the CID.