Kumasi, Feb. 12, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Police Command has stated that, it suspected the murder of Mr Samuel Enin, regional chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) was politically motivated. DCOP Frank Adu Poku, the regional police commander, said the police had been receiving conflicting statements on the murder and this had heightened the fear that, the dastardly act was premeditated. He has, however, assured the members of the GJA, the family and the public that the police and other security agencies were doing everything possible to unravel the circumstances leading to his murder and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Addressing a press conference in Kumasi on Monday, Mr Adu Poku said the police administration had offered 30 million cedis as a reward to anyone who will provide information that will lead to the arrest of the assailants of the deceased. DCOP Frank Adu Poku said Dr Anthony Akoto Osei Deputy Minister of Finance and MP for Old Tafo, the constituency where the heinous crime occurred, had contributed 10 million cedis to support the police. He said even though no arrest had been made, the police had invited some witnesses to assist in their investigations.

He therefore urged the media to be careful in their pronouncements on the incident in order not to thwart the investigation process. Mr Adu Poku also appealed to the media and the public to offer information to police to help arrest the culprits behind the murder.

He advised the media not to be cowed or deterred by the incident in the discharge of their duties saying, the police was solidly on the ground to protect the lives of all people including them.

Mr Adu Poku said the police were intensifying their night patrols at Pankrono, Old Tafo, Boukrom and other nearby communities where crime waves were said to be on the increase.

The Ashanti Regional branch of the GJA, had already appealed to the police to widen its scope of investigations into the murder of Mr Enin and pursue every "lead" they might get in the course of its investigation into the matter.

According to a statement signed by Nana Yaw Osei, regional vice chairman of the association and issued in Kumasi, Mr Enin, was widely known to be interested in becoming either a Member of Parliament (MP) or a district chief executive for his Amansie central constituency. He had also been hosting political programmes and taking part in political discussion at the Ashh FM radio station, where he was the news editor.

The Ashanti branch of the GJA said it was of the view that, if the murder was politically motivated, then apart from looking at the perceived political opponents of the late Mr Enin, his home constituency and district must also engage the attention of the police. It said it had confidence in the nation's security agencies and hoped the police were capable of unravelling mysteries surrounding murders of this nature.

Mr Enin was attacked and shot by unknown assailants at a popular spot at Pankrono estates near the Ashh FM radio station on Friday night in the company of friends. The assailants, who were said to be using a white saloon car sped off after the incident.

He died later at the Komfo Anokye Teaching where he was admitted. The circumstances surrounding his death had become a topical discussion, especially among journalists in the country and Kumasi in particular.

It had also been putting fear in journalists working in the Kumasi metropolis and they had expressed concern about their safety. 12 Feb. 07