NPP stalwarts descend on Bolga to mourn with family of regional chairman
Party stalwarts of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will today descend on Bolgatanga to participate in the burial of the late Upper East Regional Chairman, Mr Adams Mahama.
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The party’s delegation will be led by the flag-bearer of the party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and supported by the vice-presidential hopeful, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and other bigwigs.
A spokesperson for the late Mahama's family, Mr Muazu Issaka, who confirmed this to the Daily Graphic yesterday, said the family was ready for the burial rites.
He added that the family took into consideration the fact that the late chairman had two families — “the biological one and the political one."
Mr Issaka, who is also the younger brother of the late Mahama, said further consultations would be made with the NPP leadership as to how best to give his brother a befitting burial.
Autopsy report
According to the spokesperson, details of the autopsy report had not yet been made known to the family but he expressed the hope that in due course the police would disclose its details to the family.
He further explained that the family was trying to cope with the situation, saying "In Islam we know that it is Allah who gives and takes."
Mr Issaka observed that he brought down three of his late brother's children from Accra but stressed that for now "they are not allowed to talk to the press until after their father has been buried."
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Upper East Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP) Thomas Agbanyo, has indicated that the details of the report would not be made known to the media until the family of the late chairman had given the go ahead.
He further explained that for now "we are trying to manage the situation and we have intensified security in the municipality."
ASP Agbanyo said patrols had been intensified at the various residences of the regional party executive to avert any reprisal attacks.
Arrest
The Director-General of Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Commissioner of Police (COP), Mr Prosper Agblor confirmed to the Daily Graphic that one suspect, Gregory Afoko, had been arrested to assist in investigations.
He said the suspect would be brought to Accra for further interrogation in connection with the matter.
He said the police were still looking for the second suspect, Asabke Alangdi.
Sympathisers
When the Daily Graphic visited the residence of the late chairman, a good number of people had gathered to commiserate with the family, while some personnel from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the police in the region were also there carrying out their investigations.
A Member of the Council of State for the Upper East Region, Rt Reverend Dr Jacob Ayeebo, stated: "I came here to sympathise with the family because we all have a responsibility towards the family in such situations regardless of our political or religious affiliation."
According to him, the circumstances surrounding the late chairman's death was "a very painful one."
"I, therefore, pray with the family that God would touch their hearts and create in their hearts a spirit of forgiveness and leave the rest to God," he advised.
Meeting with youth
In a related development, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the National First Vice-Chairman, Mr Freddie Blay have entreated the NPP youth activists in the region to remain calm and allow the burial of the late Regional Chairman, Mr Mahama, to take place peacefully.
The appeal follows agitation from some NPP youth activists in the region who have vowed to visit mayhem on Messrs Paul Afoko, Kwabena Agyepong and Sammy Crabbe should they attempt to come for the burial of the late Mahama today, Saturday.
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The youth who were highly emotional made the declaration at a meeting with the leadership of the party in Bolgatanga shortly after their arrival ahead of the burial on Saturday.
Be patient
Dr Bawumia observed that the youth must be patient and allow the police to conclude their investigations into the incident that led to the death of the late Mahama.
"It is an irreplaceable loss and so I am appealing to all of you to exercise restraint because we as a party are closely monitoring events that would lead to the law taking its course" he noted.
Mr Blay, for his part, told the bereaved family that "members of the party are with you in spirit and we have come here to mourn with you.
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"This is not the time for emotions to rise high; we have to close our ranks and bury our brother," he stated.
According to him, the culprits thought they were doing that to wipe off the party from the region but it is a lie because we are following closely what the police are doing regarding the investigations.
"I therefore want you to keep in you a little pain because we the leadership of the party are assuring you of justice; our late brother cannot sacrifice for the party for nothing," he further noted.
Dr Bawumia was accompanied by some former regional ministers, ministers of state and Members of Parliament of the NPP.
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