Stop the intimidation: Leave Efya Royal alone

 

 

The reported attempt by national security operatives to locate and question Efya Royal, a polling station executive of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Asokwa Constituency, communicator and social media activist, over the identity and whereabouts of the anonymous commentator known as “Ghana Jollof”, is deeply troubling and deserves public attention.

 

Around 10:00 p.m. on 3 September, information began circulating that national security operatives were looking for Efya Royal. At the time, she was out of town, and her personal mobile phone had reportedly been stolen, making it extremely difficult for anyone to reach her and alert her about what was unfolding.

 

The following morning, instead of Efya Royal, the operatives reportedly arrested her senior brother and took him to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) in Kumasi, where he was kept overnight before being released later that day.

 

We are further informed that the operatives subsequently instructed Efya Royal’s brother to tell her to report to the NIB no later than Monday morning.

 

As of the time of writing, Efya Royal’s whereabouts remain unknown.

 

This situation raises an important question: Is this really how a professional intelligence service should conduct an investigation?

 

The NIB, formerly known as the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), is entrusted with serious national-security responsibilities. Such responsibilities demand professionalism, precision, intelligence-led investigations, and respect for the fundamental rights of citizens.

 

If the objective is to establish the identity or whereabouts of “Ghana Jollof,” then the security agencies should employ the investigative tools and expertise available to them, including lawful digital forensics, cyber-intelligence, and other established investigative techniques.

 

It is difficult to understand why an ordinary political activist should become a person of interest merely because she operates within political and social circles where the anonymous commentator may also be active.

 

“Ghana Jollof” has repeatedly stated publicly that her face has never been revealed on any public platform. If that assertion is correct, then identifying her would require a genuine investigative process, not assumptions, speculation, or guilt by association.

 

Efya Royal is not “Ghana Jollof.”

 

And until there is credible evidence demonstrating otherwise, she should not be treated as though she is.

 

Let us be clear: Nobody is above the law, and national security agencies have every right to investigate genuine threats and matters within their lawful mandate. But that authority must never become a licence to intimidate, harass or arbitrarily target citizens.

 

Political activism is not a crime.

 

Being a communicator is not a crime.

 

Operating a social-media platform is not a crime.

 

Knowing people within the same political environment is certainly not proof of criminal conduct.

 

If the NIB has credible evidence linking Efya Royal to an offence, then let the evidence speak for itself and let the appropriate legal procedures take their course.

 

But if the only basis for seeking her is the assumption that she might know the identity of “Ghana Jollof,” then this approach represents a disturbing precedent.

 

National security intelligence cannot be conducted through fishing expeditions.

 

The Ghanaian people expect our intelligence institutions to be smarter than that. They expect them to investigate individuals of interest through evidence, technology, intelligence gathering and professional tradecraft, not by placing pressure on activists who may simply happen to operate in the same political environment.

 

I  therefore call on the security authorities to exercise restraint, respect Efya Royal’s rights and leave her alone unless there is concrete evidence establishing a legitimate basis for their interest in her.

 

This is bigger than Efya Royal.

 

It is about the kind of country we want to live in.

 

A country where political activists can express themselves without fear of being dragged before security agencies simply because of who they know or the political circles in which they operate.

 

National security must protect citizens, not intimidate them.

 

If “Ghana Jollof” is the person the authorities are looking for, then let the NIB do its job.

 

 

But leave Efya Royal alone.

 

Enough of the intimidation. Enough of the fishing expedition. Let professionalism and the rule of law prevail.

 

 

 

WRITING FROM KWAMO HIGHWAY

KWAMO-KUMASI

 

FRANK BOSOMPEM DANSO(TOMTOM)

ASOKWA CONSTITUENCY ORGANISER.

Article By Frank Bosompem Danso.