A MIDDLE-AGED man was allegedly beaten mercilessly by some ‘macho’ (stoutly-built) men of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who accompanied President John Mahama during his tour of the Ashanti Region.
The victim, identified as Nana Akwasi Gyamera, who was said to be attending a funeral at Fumso in the Adansi South District, reportedly made the ‘change’ gesture with his hands towards President Mahama’s convoy.
The message of ‘change’ of political leadership has been the campaign message of the opposition New Patriotic Party led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The alleged NDC thugs, who were wearing green T-shirts, reportedly jumped from their Ford vehicle with registration number GW 9607-14 – which was said to be among the president’s convoy – and pummeled the 52-year-old hapless man, whom they purportedly dragged on the ground and dumped him in a big gutter.
Nana Gyamera suffered bruises on his face, legs and other parts of the body in the course of the beating until a certain military man, who was also part of the president’s team, intervened.
The victim claimed he was rushed to the Fumso Police Station where he was given a medical form to go to hospital for treatment. He had reportedly vowed to seek redress in the law court.
A nephew of the victim, Kofi Asiedu Abraham, said he was also assaulted by the men when he attempted to rescue his uncle, insisting that the family would pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
“This matter will not end here. Even if we have to go to court, we will go. If we should go to Otumfuo [Asantehene], we will go. My uncle is in pains,” he told Nhyira Fm, an independent radio station in Kumasi.
President Mahama’s convoy was recently hooted during his campaign tour of Accra at Darkuman-Kokompe where the people chanted the ‘change’ slogan amidst gestures.
Threats
Snippets of information that the paper received indicated that the NDC in the Ashanti Region had information that some people were planning to throw stones at the president’s convoy when he visited the region.
Some leading members of the party therefore, decided to constitute a group of stoutly-built men to follow the president’s convoy and prevent people from throwing stones or doing anything untoward, with him as target.
NDC’s Response
When contacted by DAILY GUIDE, Samed Akakilu, Ashanti Regional communications officer of the NDC, said even though the party was yet to confirm the case, “I am condemning it in advance, in case it is true.”
According to him, President Mahama is a unifier and peace-loving person, who had so far embarked on a peaceful and all-inclusive campaign, so “I am surprised that some of our members decided to attack someone.”
Akalilu gave the assurance that the party in the region would immediately launch a full-scale investigation into the matter and that anyone found culpable would be punished.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Fumso, Ashanti Region