In an unexpected development, Shallmar Abbiusi, a Belgian citizen linked to “The New Force,” an emerging political movement in Ghana, experienced a second arrest on Monday, December 19, 2023, casting a shadow over the recent joy of her parents. Abbiusi’s initial arrest stemmed from her association with “The New Force,” which has been gaining momentum in Ghana.
Last week, Abbiusi faced charges for allegedly submitting false documents, claiming to be a student of the Ghana Christian University College, in order to obtain a residence permit. Despite being granted bail amounting to GHc 20,000, the case was poised for a full trial on Tuesday.
Indeed, billboards featuring an unidentified masked figure with the hashtag “The New Force”, have recently surfaced in Accra, triggering a social media frenzy as speculation swirls around the person’s identity.
Having delivered speeches in late November and traveled to various regions as the movement’s spokesperson, Ms. Abbiusi is now in legal trouble. Prosecutors assert that she first arrived in Ghana in 2017 and has been a regular visitor since, obtaining a resident permit in 2018 under allegedly false pretenses, falsely claiming enrollment at the mentioned university.
A press release dated December 7 from The New Force condemned Abbiusi’s detention as an “attempt by the Government to misuse our laws and its power to persecute political opponents.” The movement accuses the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) of human rights abuses related to her arrest. The release claims Shallmar Abbiusi, questioned on December 4, has been “consistently held in custody” without legal representation. Security officials reportedly interrogated her about The New Force, its supporters, and potential presidential aspirations. While the police allege she used a “forged document to obtain a resident permit,” The New Force argues that “no person should face discrimination based on their political opinions or country of origin.”
Surprisingly, prosecutors from the immigration service announced on Monday their decision to withdraw the case, leading to the charges being dropped, and Abbiusi being discharged, officially striking out the case as withdrawn. However, immediately after leaving the courtroom, she was re-arrested by an immigration van, prompting concerns and speculation about the motives behind this action.
Francis Xavier Sosu, Abbiusi’s lead lawyer, accused the immigration service of plotting to deport her. Sosu told AfrikPage, “We have filed an action in the Human Rights court against them. I am hoping that by the close of the day or by afternoon they will all be served with those actions and they will appear in court to come and answer for what they are doing. This is so arbitrary and should not be tolerated in any democracy.”
