State behind Wontumi’s arrest – Osei–Mensah

Fourth Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Simon Osei–Mensah, has accused the State of masterminding the arrest and subsequent detention of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka, Wontumi.

He is certain that Ashanti Regional Police Command is acting under the instructions of Flagstaff House in the assault case brought against Wontumi by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia North.

“The matter has taken a political dimension and the State has moved in. If the State has no hand in this, why would it have brought in the military to come and guard the premises of the Regional Police Station in an assault case like this?” he argued.

He added “if anybody tells you that this case is NPP internal matter, it is a lie. It is a combination of inter and intra party politics. And fortunately for them (State), they have succeeded in getting a Judas Iscariot and using him to betray Jesus Christ. That is what they are doing”.

Hon. Osei-Mensah made this observation an interaction with Fiifi Banson on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM, Wednesday.

He was responding to issues surrounding the arrest and subsequent dentension of Wontumi, his former constituency chairman by the Ashanti Regional Police Command.

The NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman was declared wanted by the Police and subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest after he refused to honour an invitation extended to him by the men and women in black uniform to assist in investigations.

This follows a complaint that was lodged against him by Collins Amankwaa and the party’s constituency secretary, Felix Ibrahim, for assaulting them while observing the Limited Voter Registration exercise at a registration center named Nana Fodjour House in Krofrom in Kumasi last Sunday, May 1, 2016.

A statement issued, Monday, and signed by Asst/Superintendent of Police, Yusif Tanko, of Ashanti Regional Police Command said “Instructions have therefore been issued to the Regional CID to have Chairman Wontumi arrested to assist in investigations”.

The statement in part further read “However, it will be in his own interest to report to answer the offence of assault that was allegedly committed at Krofrom”.

Wontumi, this website is told, reported to the Police in the company of his lawyers and the Fourth Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament.

Commenting further, Hon. Osei Mensah said Wontumi after his encounter with Collins Amankwaa also lodged a complaint against the MP at the Tafo District Police Station for assaulting him.

“When we heard that the Police had declared him wanted, Wontumi in the company of some party members and his lawyers all went to the Tafo District Police Station where he submitted himself to the Police. While there, the District Police Commander told us that the matter has been referred to the Regional Police Headquarters and the docket sent there”.

“So we went there and they took his statement and we thought that they would also invite the complainant following which, we will know the next line of action to take”.

“Wontumi was later taken to the different place and whilst there, they told us that a signal has come from above that he should be put behind bars and sent to court the following day”, he explained.

He added “If he had assaulted an MP – the MP made a case and Wontumi also lodged a complaint at the Tafo District Police Station. So, while the MP has lodged a complaint to the Police, it means he has given himself up for interrogation. So, why didn’t the Police invite the MP to also take his statement? Why should they be selective?”