The seven suspected armed robbers gunned down at Manso Nkwanta in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region by police were sent to the area to illegally protect small-scale mining, according to a former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Afrifa Yamaoh Ponko under the previous administration.

“From what I have gathered and what I am hearing, I can confirm that they were sent to the area by some NPP Regional Executives to protect their people doing galamsey”, he revealed

According to the former Ejisu MCE who spoke during panel discussion monitored by MyNewsGh.com on Kumasi-based Nhyira FM, the family members and relatives of the deceased should put the blame on the doorstep of the NPP Regional Executives and not any individual or the police.

“They are not armed robbers as people are saying. They are victims of circumstances”, Hon. Afrifa Yamaoh Ponko told the host of ” Kro Yimu Nsem” political talk show by Aduanaba Kofi Asante stated.

Meanwhile, the MCE for Asokore Mampong in the region, Alhaji Alidu Seidu has admitted knowing three of the seven alleged armed robbers that were gunned down by Regional Police Command According to him, Hanan, Bashiru and Baba Kande were known faces in the Asawase area and were also known supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP)

He said the three deceased persons were part of his campaign team during the 2016 elections when he contested as a parliamentary candidate in the Asawase constituency on the ticket of the ruling NPP

Alhaji Alidu who denied that the alleged slain robbers were his bodyguards, intimated that he will be surprised should police investigations prove that the three men were indeed armed robbers

Speaking to Accra based Adom Fm and monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Alhaji Alidu opined that the three deceased people were not known criminals and had never been engaged in any criminal activity and had no criminal records.