NPP MP’s Visit Jailed Colleague

Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliaments yesterday visited their jailed colleague, Bawku Central MP Adamu Daramani-Sankande at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons to give him words of encouragement.

The incarcerated MP looked cheerful and hearty when a delegation of NPP MP’s led by second deputy minority whip Ben Kofi Ayeh, met with him at the prisons.

He was convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each for three counts of perjury, deceit of a public officer and false declaration of office on Friday, July 27, 2012 in a case relating to his alleged dual citizenship.

Daramani-Sakande was immediately whisked away by a standby police force to start his two-year prison term at Nsawam Prisons as the sentences were to run concurrently. Prison officers were magnanimous in allowing members of the parliamentary delegation to meet and chat with their colleague.

Looking highly elevated, the jailed Bawku MP told his colleagues he had been treated very well so far, saying, “I have been given VIP treatment”. I have less stress and my blood pressure has reduced even without medication,” he said, adding that he had been happy knowing that Bawku was peaceful after his incarceration.

“My biggest problem was how to ensure peace in Bawku after my incarceration but I have been assured by my people that they would not do anything to disturb the peace in Bawku. “I have always been a man of peace and I don’t want any blood to be shed in my name,” Daramani-Sakande stated.

Members of the delegation took turns to give him words of encouragement, asking him to remain strong in the midst of what they described as political prosecution. Ben Ayeh urged the Bawku MP to be strong because God knew best why he was imprisoned.

Going Biblical, Mr. Ayeh said, “If Lucifer knew that the death of Christ will save mankind, he would not have pushed Judas to betray Christ”.

Leading the northern parliamentary caucus, Navrongo Central MP Joseph Kofi Adda assured Daramani-Sakande that all the NPP lawmakers from the north were solidly behind him and that the opposition party would use every legal means to get him out of prison. “Your incarceration is political motivated by people who want to destroy your life but we will make sure they don’t succeed,” Mr. Adda stated.

Lead counsel for the incarcerated MP, Yoni Kulendi, had indicated that they would appeal, stressing, “we will have our day in court, that is why I said that the judge has spoken now - but it is not over; we will show that this judgement will not stand”.

Other MPs who encouraged Daramani-Sakande included Tema West MP, Irene Naa Torshie Addo; Atwima Mponua MP, Isaac Asiamah; Oforikrom MP Elizabeth Agyeman; Lambussie MP, Doughr John Baloroo and Bosomtwe MP, Simon Osei-Mensah.

The rest were Atwima-Nwabiagya MP, Benito Owusu-Bio, Mpreaso MP Seth Acheampong; Asunafo North MP, Robert Sarfo-Mensah and Fanteakwa MP, Amankwa Kwabena Asiamah.