Ashanti Regional Police directs KMA to release Assembly Member for Asokwa New Town

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has officially written to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to release the Assembly Member for the Asokwa New Town Electoral Area, Mr Oscar Riches, aka Ghana Beyeyie, who allegedly assaulted the Deputy Coordinating Director of the KMA, Mr Kalem Abdellah Adam, at a meeting last Wednesday.

The Presiding Member of the KMA, Mr Abraham Boadi, aka Opooman, confirmed the request by the police for the KMA to produce Riches.

“I have officially informed the honourable member involved and asked him to report himself to the police,” he added.

Staff threaten

Meanwhile, staff of the KMA have threatened to hit the streets in protest against alleged abuse by the assembly members.

They had hung red bands on some parts of the assembly building to show their seriousness about the issue and the need for the assembly members to respect them.

According to a source, aside from countless verbal insults on the junior staff by some assembly members, Riches had verbally abused and disgraced the Coordinating Director, Mr Michael Ataogye, a week before allegedly beating up Mr Adam.

It said prior to the verbal attack on Mr Ataogye, Riches had allegedly insulted and threatened to beat up the Metropolitan Planning Officer.

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Assault

Last Wednesday, Riches was said to have assaulted Mr Adam during a meeting at the KMA.

Mr Adam was rushed to the Cocoa Clinic in Kumasi where he was treated and discharged, after which he lodged a complaint with the Ashanti Regional Police Command.

Although the police said they were looking for Mr Riches, he had been speaking to the issue on a number of radio stations.

A source at the meeting told the Daily Graphic that Mr Adam’s crime was that he was unable to produce a document for members of the Finance and Administration sub-Committee of the assembly at a meeting.

It said Mr Adam, who was new at the assembly, had explained that the said document was with the Coordinating Director, who had stepped out with the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE).

Not satisfied with that explanation, the source added, Riches started pouring invectives on Mr Adam and asked him to walk out of the meeting.