The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has expressed concerns over the detention of Onua TV’s morning show host, Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as ‘Captain Smart’.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Sammy Gyamfi said, the detention of the journalist by National Security operatives is a reflection of government’s nontolerance for critical voices.

He, therefore, wondered when the ‘tyranny’ will stop.

“Yesterday, Captain Smart was arraigned before Circuit Court 6 in Accra, by National Security Operatives and the Ghana Police service on some trumped-up charges. The Court in its wisdom granted Captain Smart bail and he and his lawyers satisfied all the bail conditions yeaterday.

Sadly but unsurprisingly, the autocratic and despotic Akufo-Addo regime has refused to release Captain Smart from Police Custody. Captain was detained yesterday by the National Security. As we speak his location is unknown to his lawyers, family and employer. This government’s penchant for oppressing and suppressing persons critical of them including journalists is disgraceful and sickening. When will this tyranny stop? #ReleaseCaptainSmartNow“, Sammy Gyamfi wrote.

Background

On Wednesday, February 2, an Accra Circuit Court 6, charged Captain Smart with two counts of alleged extortion with the use of threat.

The two charges, according to the prosecution, were in relation to two separate incidents on December 23, 2021, and January 12, 2022, where he allegedly extorted $10,000 and ¢50,000 from one Ahmed Kwabena Nkrumah, a businessman based in Tema.

Subsequently, the broadcaster was charged together with one Eric Daniels Dadzie Copperfield, alias ‘Gh Boy’, an alleged accomplice, who was also charged with abetment of crime.

The Court, presided over by His Honour, K.K. Obiri-Yeboah granted bail to a tune of ¢50,000 each and two sureties after the two suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their bail grant at around 10:00 am, the two were then taken to the National Security office where they stayed for a few hours briefing the Coordinator on what had transpired at the Court.

However, later that evening, the National Security officers returned to pick them up and took them back to the National Security Office.

According to reports, the officers had stated that they were directed to do so by orders from above. It is not clear the interest of National Security in Captain Smart.

But the detention of the journalist, according to Sammy Gyamfi is ‘disgraceful’, hence the call for his release.