....After Beating by Kufuor's bodyguards
Monday, 08 September 2008 A bodyguard of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2008 flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills was beaten up by President John Agyekum Kufuor's bodyguards last Saturday, which resulted in the bodyguard falling into a coma. The victim of the incident, who goes by the name ‘Angola’ is second in command of Mills’ security guards.

He was mercilessly beaten up by some soldiers who accompanied President Kufuor to the grand durbar of the Fetu Afahye last Saturday, making him unconscious in the process. The former national walker, Vincent Essuman, rushed him to the Central Regional Hospital in Cape Coast.

The Chronicle yesterday gathered that ‘Angola’ has been referred to the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital in Accra for further treatment. An elderly woman who complained about the molestation of Mills’ bodyguard by the soldiers was also not spared some beating, while a local photographer who captured the scene live was assaulted and had his camera destroyed.

The incident occurred when President Kufuor's security prevented ‘Angola’ from following the NDC flag bearer when he was exchanging pleasantries with Kufuor, but that problem was quickly resolved.

The situation went from bad to worse when the bodyguards of Prof Mills decided to retaliate by preventing the President’s security detail from getting closer to Prof Mills when President Kufuor went back to greet the NDC flag bearer.

This resulted in a fierce scuffle with ‘Angola’ being heckled and whisked away by armed military men who accompanied the President. This incident, however, did very little to take away from the splendour of the festival itself, with Prof. Atta Mills and Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom setting the durbar ground agog when they arrived at the durbar grounds with their ‘yeresesamu’ slogan.

The flag bearer of the NDC, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, who was the first to arrive at the durbar, which was held at Chapel Square in Cape Coast, entered with his entourage doing the “yeresesamu” sign, and this caught up with the crowd.

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, flag bearer of the CPP arrived shortly after Prof Mills and also did the same ‘yeresesamu’ sign, which again received cheers and applause from the crowd. The occasion took an interesting turn when the CPP entourage went round to greet the chiefs and members of the NDC present.

Dr. Nduom, on reaching the canopy occupied by Prof Mills and his entourage started doing the ‘yeresesamu’ sign as the way of greeting, compelling the NDC to also respond with the same sign, thus, attracting thunderous clapping and cheering from the large crowd gathered.

Even the chiefs could not hide their joy and excitement as they joined the gathering to cheer the two political giants as they did their own thing. The ceremony, which was used to purify the township, was also used to mark the 10th anniversary of the Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, whowas dressed in a red cloth with a headgear to match.

Prof Mills presented GH ¢ 2,000 (¢20 million), five cartons of schnapps and assorted exotic drinks as well as 18 crates of assorted minerals to support the celebrations. He also pledged GH ¢ 1,000 (¢10 million) in support of the Cape Coast Palace which is under construction.

Dr. Nduom, on his part presented a bull, crates of assorted minerals and foodstuff as well as GH ¢ 500( ¢ 5 million). Prof Mills later visited the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital where he was met on arrival by the Metropolitan Health Director at the Hospital, Dr Joseph Nuertey. He also donated GH ¢ 1,500 (¢ 15 million) to the Hospital for the upkeep of patients on admission.

Prof Mills told the doctors and nurses at the Hospital that the gesture was part of the party’s social responsibility, indicating that politics should be about caring for one another and that politicians would toil in vain unless they listen to and address the needs of the masses.

“When the NDC says we care for you, we truly mean it because politics should be about care that one can give to individuals in need”, he stressed. Prof Mills was in the city to participate in the Fetu Afahye festival.