I have an intimate relationship with the cell where Oliver Barker-Vormawor is being kept. It’s a place I’ve been before. I haven’t been able to visit him as much as I did when he was at Ashaiman, where I saw him almost every day. Now, I’ve only seen him once. Part of the reason is that I’ve been supporting other Patriots going through this ordeal for the first time—they need all the strength they can get.

Accra Central is a terrible place. When I was arrested and kept there, it was overcrowded, filthy, and suffocating. People even slept on the wet, dirty floor of the washroom, with the toilet overflowing and flushed only occasionally due to the lack of water. When someone needed to use it, those sleeping there would stand up, stay inside, and endure the unbearable smell.

There was no privacy, no dignity. When I was there, a kind officer refused every order to put me in the cell. When other officers asked why I was being kept behind the counter instead of inside, he would say something vague but effective enough to end the discussion. Then, one day, another officer insisted that I be put inside the cell. I told him he was right and even began insisting myself—after all, it was human beings in there. But as I kept pushing, the officer stopped me, saying, “No, sir. You are a nobleman. I can’t do that.” The place fell silent.

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It was surreal—I had spent three days behind the counter without sleeping, just writing and talking to officers, but the horror of that cell haunted me. This is a story I may share one day, or one I may carry with me to the grave.

I didn’t realise how deeply this affected me until I heard Oliver was being kept there. The flashbacks came, my heart raced, and I feared the worst. But when I visited him, I was surprised to see the place looked better than it had during my time. I mentioned it to him, and we laughed. What a terrible joke! But such is the situation when you are behind bars. Your psychology is everything. Something must make sense to keep you going.

But make no mistake: Oliver is suffering. Being denied bail based on speculation is a cruel injustice. Keeping him there is inhumane. And staying silent about this is a crime against us all. We must speak up. What’s happening to Oliver could happen to any one of us. Let’s stand together and demand his freedom. #UntilWeAreAllFree #JusticeForOliver #FreetheCitizens #StopGalamseyNow