“Governments come and go” – Nii Teiko Tagoe reminds CID Boss of her constitutional oath
Accra, August 6, 2026 –
Lawyer and public affairs commentator, Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe, has written an open letter to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, urging her to protect the independence of the CID amid growing concerns over the arrest of government critics.
In the letter made public on Facebook on Thursday, Mr. Tagoe praised COP Donkor as “one of Ghana’s most accomplished police officers,” citing her academic credentials, legal training and distinguished policing pedigree. He also referenced her mother, the late COP Jane Christie Donkor, the first woman to attain the rank of Commissioner of Police in Ghana.
“Your legacy will not be measured by the number of arrests made under your tenure as Director-General of the CID,” Mr. Tagoe wrote. “It will be judged by whether, when Ghana’s democracy faced difficult constitutional questions, you stood firmly on the side of justice, professionalism and the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution.”
The writer expressed concern over what he described as an increasing pattern of CID arrests of citizens over comments about the President, the First Family and government officials.
He listed Camilla Alhassan, Mahama Aminat popularly known as “Bawumia Ba”, Prince Ofori, Yayra Abiwu, Mamaan also known as “MamaOne”, Baba Amando, and Pastor William Gyimah as among those arrested or prosecuted in recent months.
“Whether they exercised good judgment or even broke the law is for the courts to determine,” he stated. “But an unmistakable perception is taking hold that when criticism of the Presidency becomes particularly harsh, it is the CID that comes knocking with handcuffs.”
Mr. Tagoe argued that freedom of expression exists to protect speech that is “uncomfortable, provocative and critical of those in power,” and that defamation cases involving public officials should be handled through civil courts, not the criminal investigative machinery of the state.
He warned that if such a standard had been applied before 2025, “then perhaps half of President John Mahama’s cabinet, including himself, would have been arrested before the 2024 general elections.”
The open letter appealed to COP Donkor not to allow her reputation as both a lawyer and police officer to be “overshadowed by the alarming perception that the CID is being used to intimidate critics or shrink Ghana’s democratic space.”
“Governments come and go. Presidents come and go. But the Ghana Police Service endures. Its credibility depends on public confidence that it acts independently, impartially and without political influence,” he added.
He concluded by reminding the CID boss that her oath is to the Constitution, not to any government, and urged her to protect it “with the courage and independence for which you have become respected.”
The Ghana Police Service is yet to respond to the letter.
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