General News of Wednesday, 15 December 2004

Source: GNA

Minister's son in political assault case

Wa, Dec. 15, GNA - The Wa Police are investigating a case of assault brought against the sons of the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Sahanun Mogtari and the Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Issahque Abdulai.

Mr Diwudeen Mogtari and Mr Mahamuda Issahaque, sons of the Regional Minister and NPP Regional Chairman, respectively, allegedly attacked and vandalised vehicles belonging to People's National Convention (PNC) Polling Agents in separate incidents in the Wa Central Constituency. Apart from beating and destroying a motorbike belonging to the PNC Agents, the two also allegedly issued threats of death to the Agents. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Baffour Appenteng, Upper West Regional Police Crime Officer, told the GNA that certain individuals had lodged complaints about the assaults as individual but not as Agents of the PNC.

Mr Appenteng, who was speaking to the GNA following a press conference Mr Bernard Anbatangela, PNC Parliamentary Candidate for Wa Central, held at Wa on Monday, said the Police had gone far with their investigations.

The Regional Crime Officer wondered why the PNC had to call a press conference when they were in the process of bringing the accused persons to book.

Mr Appenteng urged Political Party Leaders to always present issues with all the truth and humility rather than acting as though the Police were not working.

The Crime Officer showed the docket on the cases to GNA with photographs of the vandalised motorbike and appealed to supporters of various political parties to remain calm while they carried out their investigations.

Mr Anbatangela had said at the press conference that Diwudeen and Mahamuda had attacked and vandalised vehicles belonging to PNC Polling Agents at Wa Central Constituency.

He said as if that was not enough Diwudeen and Mahamuda again attacked one Toyiba, a driver of a KIA truck, which the PNC used for their electioneering campaign, adding that the case had also been reported to the Police. Mr Anbatangela appealed to the Police to expedite action and warned: "I can continue to restrain my people from retaliating with anger just for some length of time but not forever. My supporters and I have reached the limits of our tolerance and patience". He, therefore, called on the Police to institute the appropriate investigations and bring the accused to face the full rigours of the law. He also appealed to the Police to ensure that the vandalised motorbike was immediately replaced and the victims of the brutalities appropriately compensated and to ensure that the assailants apologised to the entire PNC. 15 Dec. 04