I will not hesitate to arrest and lock up Wontumi - COP Kofi Boakye

Ashanti Regional Police Commander has issued a stern warning to Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako to stop raising false alarm ahead of Wednesday’s polls.

COP Nathan Kofi Boakye has also warned Antwi Boasiako against acts that have the tendency of heightening tension in the region.

The police chief adds, failure by the Chairman to adhere to the warnings will incur the police service’s wrath and will not hesitate to apply the laws on him vigorously.

"I will not hesitate to arrest and lock him up if he falls foul of the law after several false alarms that sought to incite the public especially members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into violence,” Kofi Boakye adds.

At a press conference earlier today on the intercepted ‘thumb printed’ ballot papers, the police Commissioner questioned why the NPP chairman would call on his supporters to mass up at the police headquarters on a matter that was under investigation, indicating that this is not the first time he has conducted himself in that manner.

“The criminal laws are still working, and you have no right to go into a private property to inspect for weapons. That is not your duty. If you suspect anything, report to the police who are the mandated establishment in the Constitution to engage in such issues”, he advised.

His outburst follows two panic incidents reported by the NPP regional chairman which turned out to be hoaxes in three days.

First was allegations that they had a tip-off that some unknown persons were hoarding arms and ammunitions to torment voters in the party’s stronghold but when he [Wontumi] led a police vehicle filled with armed officers to the alleged location, nothing was uncovered.

On Monday, he was again reported to have informed the police of thugs in a room at Madison Hotel near Aboude Restaurant at TUC allegedly thumb printing ballot papers for President Mahama which also turned out to be untrue.