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President John Evans Atta Mills has denounced speculations that he and his government had a hand in the arrest and subsequent remanding of the 27 year old sympathizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Darkwa Baafi, into prison custody. He has therefore urged those who have sought to align him and his government for the decision of the Circuit Court, to desist from so, doing since it goes to undermine the very foundation of democracy and the rule of law. In a statement signed and issued by a Deputy Information Minister, James Agyenim Boateng, President Mills expressed concern over the decision of the circuit court, to remand Nana Darkwa for two weeks. He emphasised his belief in good governance, the rule of law, and his commitment to creating a better Ghana with opportunities for all, within an environment of unfettered protection of the citizen�s rights to free expression. President Mills, however, assured the citizenry of his unflinching respect for the rule of law and the principles of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary, stressing the need for a balance between responsible citizenship, and the right to free expression. Whilst appreciating the huge responsibility of the judiciary in promoting a balance in the nurturing of democratic governance, President Mills reminded the public to exercise their rights responsibly. Nana Darkwa was granted bail, when his lawyer, Kwame Akuffo, sent an application to the High Court, after it was turned down by the Circuit Court which remanded him into prison custody. The High Court upheld that the Circuit Court�s decision to remand Nana Darkwa on charges of publishing false news with the intent to cause fear and alarm to the public was too harsh, and therefore decided to grant him bail. Shortly after his release from the Ministries police station where he was being kept, Nana Darkwa spoke to sections of the media at the NPP headquarters in Asylum Down, and thanked members of the party, the media, and the general public, for their support. Prior to that, the Minority NPP members of parliament boycotted proceedings of the House indefinitely in solidarity. Their decision to boycott Parliament was founded on the belief that government had a hand in the arrest and subsequent remand of the gentleman, stressing that the unfettered freedoms Ghanaians enjoyed for eight years under NPP rule, was being substituted with the National Democratic Congress� (NDC�s) dark days. They therefore urged all Ghanaians, and those who cherish democracy, to stand up against what they described as, not just a �naked attempt by the NDC to muscle the press and criminalize freedom of speech,� but also the manipulation of the security apparatus to silence opponents, especially members of the NPP. Addressing a press conference in Accra, the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame, Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu, described the judge�s decision to remand Nana Darkwa for the two week period, as appalling, and called for his immediate release. The Minority urged President Mills to intervene in the case, and stressed that until a favourable response was given, it would resist what it describes as oppressor�s rule with all its might, in consonance with the country�s national anthem. It also demanded the arrest and subsequent prosecution of people, including Ama Benyiwa Doe, Asiedu Nketiah and Rawlings, for making similar criminal statements against officials of the NPP. The Minority, most of who were clad in red and black clothes to signify their seriousness, said Nana Darkwa�s was nothing different from the era, where the likes of Odartey Wellington, Kweku Baako Jnr, Haruna Attah, and a host of others, were arrested for exercising their right to free speech. Nana Darkwa was arrested and remanded into prison custody on Thursday, for alleging that Mr. Rawlings himself set his house ablaze, and dared anybody to disprove him. He was thus charged for publishing false news with the intent to cause fear and alarm to the public.