General News of Tuesday, 28 September 2004

Source: PeaceFM

Asamoah Boateng Chased Out Of 37 Military Hospital

The deputy minister of information Steven Asamoah Boateng says he had to take back a get well flower pack he had to present to Alhaji Mumuni on behalf of the government because, NDC activists who had then besieged the 37 Military Hospital would not allow him to present the flowers and express the government?s sympathy, since he was an NPP man.

He said he had to leave the hospital on security advice and for his own safety since the NDC supporters alleged he was carrying bombs in the flowers.

Also ECOWAS parliament member and MP for Bawku central Madam Hawa Yakubu earlier in the day had to use the backdoor of the hospital to escape from the irate NDC supporters who were angry with security there, because they allowed an NPP woman in and did not allow them who were? proper NDC? to see their idol Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni. Hon. Hawa Yakubu told PeaceNews that she was already dressed up wearing an hat in NPP colours, for a meeting with NPP women when she heard of the accident and decided to stop by the hospital to see her colleague.

Hon. Mohammed Mumuni the running-mate of National Democratic Congress flagbearer, professor Atta Mills was involved in a near fatal accident, which resulted in a fracture in his left leg. Hon. Mohammed Mumuni, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, is on admission at the 37 Military Hospital and is reported to be in a stable condition. The incident is reported to have happened at Haatso where he resides, at about 5am on Tuesday, September 28, 2004.

It is not clear as exactly where he was going or coming from when his car was ran into by another car, which is still on the run. While some close pals to the NDC running mate told Peace FM that he probably might have been returning from the mosque at that time when his car was run into, others alleged that he had a call to attend an emergency meeting at that time.

Special Aide to former President, Mr. Victor Smith told Peace FM that, the car of the MP has been towed to the Medina Police Station. Top NDC gurus rushed to the 37 Military Hospital to see the condition of their running mate.

Meanwhile the NDC flagbearer, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills has cut short his six-day tour of the Ashanti Region, and has returned to Accra to attend to his colleague at the hospital. Prof. Mills called on the Security Agencies to institute investigations into the incident with immediate effect.

Later in the afternoon Brigadier General Joseph Ayettey, Commanding Officer of the Hospital told Newsmen "Alhaji Mumuni is in a very stable condition and they are giving him the best of services". He explained that Alhaji Mumuni has, however, been moved from the Anoff Ward, where very important persons and senior officers are kept to the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital.

Brig. Gen. Ayettey said the move to transfer him to the ICU was not because he was in a critical condition as was being speculated, but due to the pressure the overwhelming number of Party supporters, family members and well-wishers were putting on the Hospital staff, which was making their work difficult.

Meanwhile, the Police say they were still investigating the circumstances that led to the event.