...For locking up tyres of his vehicle

Cape Coast, Jan. 6, - A special Taskforce set up by the Cape Coast Municipal Assembly for revenue mobilisation and traffic control on Wednesday evening locked up the tyres of Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze's vehicle, which he had parked near the Kotokuraba Market.

A release from the Public Relations Unit of the Central Regional Council on Thursday said the Taskforce locked the tyres as soon as Mr Edumadze stepped out of the vehicle to talk to some market women. The release said the engine was running with the hazard lights blinking and despite the fact that some bystanders and an Associate of the Regional Minister told them that it was Mr Edumadze, who had parked the vehicle, they ignored them and went ahead to lock up the tyres.

It said when the members of the Taskforce were told that the vehicle belonged to the Regional Minister one of them retorted: "Who is he?"

The release said a Member of the Municipal Assembly had to plead with the members of the Taskforce before they unlocked the tyres after about 20 minutes.

'Sergeant' Isaac Adabie, Commander of the Taskforce, told the GNA that the team was on its usual patrol duty, when it came upon the parked vehicle so they locked up its tyres.

He said the team did not know that the vehicle belonged to the Regional Minister until Mr Edumadze sent someone to inform him.

'Sgt' Adabie said soon after he had ordered one of his men to go and unlock the tyres of the vehicle, one of the Municipal Assembly Guards, 'Corporal' Joseph Abraham, who was then directing traffic near the Market, came to report to him that Mr Edumadze had slapped him repeatedly because of the incident.

He said the Municipal Guards had laid down their tools, "until they hear from the authorities".