The For The Records Team, Campaign Team and legal representatives have confirmed the arrest of Mr Afrifa Mensah by the Ashanti Regional Police Command in the early hours of Sunday, July 12, at approximately 7:30am.

They said they would present the facts as presently known and assured the public that Mr Afrifa Mensah remains committed to the rule of law and the democratic values of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Background

On July 6, 2026, the NPP’s National Steering Committee, acting through the Acting National Chairman, formally directed the immediate suspension of the Afigya Sekyere East Constituency Executive Committee elections pending determination of an ongoing court process.

The memorandum specifically instructed that all activities relating to the elections be suspended until further notice in compliance with the orders of the High Court, Kumasi.

This directive followed an order for interim injunction issued by the High Court, Kumasi, restraining the party and its officers from proceeding with aspects of the electoral process relating to the conduct of polling station and electoral area coordinators’ elections and, subsequently, the constituency executive election in Afigya Sekyere East pending determination of the substantive application before the court.

Statement of events

Despite the clear directives from both the High Court and the National Steering Committee, the statement alleges that Nana Nkansah Buadu, Chief of Agric Nzema and biological father of the sitting Member of Parliament Mavis Nkansah Buadu, together with a few selected constituency officials and with the assistance of heavily armed police, printed their own ballot papers.

They reportedly produced a manufactured constituency delegates album and proceeded with arrangements to conduct the suspended constituency elections on Sunday morning.

Circumstances leading to the arrest.

According to the statement, upon receiving information that the suspended electoral process was being carried out contrary to the National Party’s directive and the subsisting court order, Mr Afrifa Mensah, who has publicly declared his intention to contest the party’s parliamentary primaries, went to the election centre solely to ascertain the facts for himself and to serve notice of the injunction and the National Party’s directive on the electoral officials.

The statement alleges that, on arrival, he and some of his supporters were subjected to physical maltreatment and attacks by police officers at the venue on the instruction of Nana Nkansah Buadu, and were subsequently arrested and taken away by the police.

It adds that those enforcing the injunction and the suspension of party elections were arrested.

Following his arrest at approximately 7:40am, neither his family, lawyers nor members of his campaign team were informed of his whereabouts for several hours, creating tension and anxiety among his supporters and the general public.

Injuries and current custody

The statement says Mr Afrifa Mensah was accompanied by sympathisers who demonstrated no intention to cause harm and were unarmed. It further states that Okatakyie Afrifa does not and has never owned a vigilante group.

The team confirms that at approximately 5:00pm on Sunday, Mr Afrifa Mensah was transferred to the Divisional Police Command at Asante Mampong, where he remains in police custody pending further lawful processes. Mr Afrifa Mensah and four other members of his team sustained severe gunshot injuries and are currently undergoing treatment.

Call for calm

The statement urges all party faithful, supporters and members of the public to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, and to refrain from any actions capable of undermining public order or interfering with ongoing legal processes.

Position of Mr Afrifa Mensah

“Mr Afrifa Mensah’s commitment to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) remains unwavering,” the statement says.

“His desire has always been to contribute meaningfully to the growth, unity and prosperity of the Party at every level through lawful, democratic and constitutional means. We remain confident that the truth will prevail and that due process will ultimately vindicate his actions," it assured.

The statement concluded that further updates will be communicated through his legal representatives and authorised spokespersons as developments unfold.