Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Ing. Kwadwo Twum Boafo and Dominic Ayine

Whenever Ing. Kwadwo Twum Boafo recounts his harrowing experience at the hands of operatives from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) post the 2016 elections, the pain, anger, and resentment it generates become so palpable that one need not be in his proverbial shoes to empathize with the torment he endured under the Akufo-Addo administration.

The story of the respected engineer is one of state-backed witch-hunting and persecution of a man whose legacy and footprints at the Ghana Free Zones Authority remain visible almost a decade after Michael Okyere Baafi forcefully took the position from him.

Hearing or watching him talk about his depressing experience makes you wonder how many times he sat on his couch, fearing whether the next day would meet him or if there would ever be an end to the downright victimization.

By the end of the charade called investigation, Ing. Twum Boafo had made compulsory visits to EOCO no less than a staggering thirty-four times (34). But the visiting is perhaps the least of the struggles endured. The state-sponsored smirching of his name and reputation in the media, the persistent harassment of him and his family by National Security officers, and the death threats triggered by Dominic Nitiwul's attack on him definitely took a toll not just on him but on his octogenarian parents.

Ing. Kwadwo Twum Boafo endured all this for what exactly? For the simple reason of forcefully urging Ghanaians not to vote for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the 2016 elections, which, in hindsight, was a good caution to Ghanaians, as not only did Nana Addo turn out to be Ghana's worst president, but he also, as succinctly put by Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah, became a perfect example of how not to govern a country.

The unfortunate and worst part about this whole story is that the experience of Ing. Kwadwo Twum Boafo was not an exception; it was the norm under the Akufo-Addo government.

There is the story of Dominic Ayine's six-year-old boy waking up to armed policemen at the gate of their house. There is the story of how Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor's 8-bedroom house was razed down one dawn. There is the story of John Jinapor's house being raided, and the most egregious and blatant persecution in the history of this country, the trial of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. The stories are countless, with victims ranging from high-ranking officials of the Mills/Mahama governments of 2009-2016 to public toilet operators who were chased out of their jobs by NPP supporters.

Such is the vindictiveness, maliciousness, and cruelty with which Akufo-Addo ruled and handled members of the opposition after late President John Evans Atta Mills had set a good precedent of smooth changeover by allowing MMDCEs of the Kufuor government to stay in power for over six months, much to the chagrin of NDC supporters.

Professor Mills, in tune with his 'Asomdwehene' nature, gave this country a clean slate relative to the smooth transition of power between political parties, but his works were undone by the Akufo-Addo administration, who were hell-bent on persecuting members of the NDC.

This is why the sight of the very respected Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, apologizing to Ken Ofori-Atta over the visit to his house by some security operatives is difficult to watch.

It is difficult to stomach not because one is compelled to endorse their action, but because NDC officials like Ing. Kwadwo Twum Boafo suffered worse and received no apology from anyone in the NPP.

So when next Mahama Ayariga or any member of the NDC tries to play the 'bigger and better' human card by apologizing for such actions, he or she should ask themselves, did Ing. Kwadwo Twum Boafo and the rest get any apology for their ordeal?