A prominent bodyguard of National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, is in trouble with the law for allegedly beating up a fellow party man at Cowlane in Accra. Arnold, who is a heavily-built man popularly referred to as ‘Machoman’ in local parlance, pounced on his victim at the Central business District in Accra yesterday for daring to question the authority of local ‘Lord’ Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, Press Secretary to Prof. Mills.

The victim of the heavily-built bodyguard’s attack is 36 year old Albert Kojo Yeboah, fondly called Carlos, who is currently wringing in pain.

The case involving the bodyguard, popularly called Arnold in reference to California Governor and former movie star, Arnold Schwarznegger because of his resemblance to the US actor now Governor, has its origins in the Odododiodoo by-election in which a deal was reached to have the much favoured Alhaji Walid Laryea step down for Nii Tackie Commey.

It was feared at the time that, if such a deal was not brokered, the votes of the NDC would be split among the candidates, spelling defeat for the party. The Odododiodoo constituency seat had become vacant following the death of the substantive MP, Hon Samuel Mankattah.

Carlos, who has reported the case to the Accra Central Police Station, said he called in to a Radio Gold programme yesterday for Nii Lante and Walid to clear the air on the money given to Walid for him to step down for Nii Tackie Commey.

Radio Gold had reviewed a publication the previous day about a report that $9000 was given to Walid for stepping down for the man who finally emerged as MP for the Odododiodoo constituency. The bodyguard was alleged to have confronted his victim at his place of business over why he had called in to the radio programme and opened the party to ridicule.

Mr. Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, Prof Mills’ aide, was said to have delivered the money, described as compensation, for Walid’s expenses in the by-election before he was impressed upon to step down by NDC gurus, for Nii Tackie Commey. The amount, said to have been delivered by Nii Lantey, fell short of the $9000 claimed in the newspaper publication.

Nii Lantey was the NDC candidate in the said by-election but was forced to step down following a court case against him for an alleged electoral malfeasance.

Walid, who was hospitalized at the Cathedral Hospital at the time of the deal, confirmed to Carlos that the money his wife received on his behalf was $7000 and not $9000 as claimed by Nii Lantey. Walid confirmed to Daily Guide yesterday that he indeed received $7,000 even though he had spent far more than that.

Carlos’ call-in to the Radio Gold programme was to seek the truth about the shortfall, but this intervention incurred the wrath of the macho-like Arnold.

Seething with anger, he approached Carlos at his place of business and questioned him about his quest to discover the actual amount doled out, seeing it as a means to embarrass a party fellow. As Carlos proceeded to pick up the newspaper which contained the report about the amount said to have changed hands, Arnold allegedly pounced on him with a combination of blows.

Bystanders, who could have intervened, took to their heels as Carlos weathered the ordeal of his aggressor. After the thrashing, Carlos hobbled to the Accra Central Police Station to lodge a complaint of assault against Mills’ bodyguard. The Police have confirmed the report and have promised to pick up the alleged aggressor for questioning when they are done with their preliminary investigations.

The victim of the assault has, meanwhile, been given a Police medical attention form to go to hospital as a routine procedure in such cases. Alhaji Walid has promised to talk about the subject at a later date. Source: D. Guide