Wontumi returns to court on 1st June
The two complainants in the alleged assault case brought against the Ashanti regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, Collins Owusu Amankwah, MP for Manhyia North and the constituency secretary, Felix Ibrahim, have withdrawn the case against the Chairman for it to be settled out of court.
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The prosecution led by Superintendent Emmanuel Akonnor submitted a letter signed by the two complainants praying the court to allow the case to be treated as a family matter since all three were officials of the NPP.
The Asokwa Magistrate Court presided over by His Worship, Korkor Owusu Achiaw, subsequently adjourned the case to June 1, 2016, for the parties to report back to him.
Mr Antwi-Boasiako, popularly referred to as Chairman Wontumi, was admitted to a bail sum of GH¢20,000 with two sureties, one of whom should deposit a land title document or deposit Gh¢10,000 before the court.
In a chaotic scene at the Regional Police Headquarters in Kumasi where party supporters had massed up over the last 24 hours protesting his arrest, a team of heavily armed police officials whisked the suspect, Wontumi, who has been in police custody since Tuesday, to the Asokwa Magistrate Court.
Activities temporarily came to a halt in the commercial capital of Kumasi as hundreds of supporters chased the police convoy on foot, with a few others in vehicles from Adum to Asokwa.
They chanted, stomped, drummed and hurled insults at the security personnel as many were prevented from entering the courtroom to listen to proceedings.
Lead counsel for Wontumi, Egbert Failbille Jnr, who led a seven-member strong legal team, and a dozen of party bigwigs prayed the court that in the interest of reconciliation which the courts seek to promote these days, the judge should grant the request of the complainants to treat the case as a family matter.
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“All the three have been mandated by the party to work together to protect the interest of the NPP at the ongoing Limited Registration,” he said.
He said the continuous detention of Wontumi would create more chaotic scenes and may not promote peace in the region and the nation as a whole.
“The party expects the three officials to join forces to protect the party’s interest in the Limited Registration,” he added.
Early on, Wontumi had pleaded not guilty to the two counts of assaults against a public official, Collins Owusu Amankwah, MP for Manhyia North and the constituency secretary Felix Ibrahim.
Background
Wontumi last Sunday allegedly attacked and physically assaulted the MP and the constituency secretary at the Nana Fodjuor Registration Centre at Krofrom in the Manhyia North constituency.
The two were said to been monitoring the exercise at the polling station when the attack took place and in the process, Mr Ibrahim was admitted to and later discharged from hospital.
According to the statement by Mr Ibrahim, he was suddenly pushed by one of the many machomen following the Chairman on hearing of their presence in the area.
Wontumi allegedly also pushed him against a pile of cement blocks, stepped on his feet and subjected him to severe beatings while Wontumi’s bodyguards prevented people from restraining the regional chairman.
Wontumi was also said to have slapped the MP, Owusu Amankwah and heaped insults on him following which the two reported the matter to the Tafo Pankrono Police Station where Mr Ibrahim was given a hospital form to visit the hospital.
Arrest warrant
Subsequently, the regional police command issued a warrant for his arrest to assist in investigations. However, since Sunday the police claimed the chairman had been evasive until he turned himself in last Tuesday.
Shadow Boxing
Chairman Wontumi and the two, have been engaged in a shadow boxing over a disputed constituency album which is to be used to elect a parliamentary candidate for the area.
The sitting MP who is one of the contestants and Mr Ibrahim are challenging a move by Chairman Wontumi and the National Executive Committee (NEC) to have a re-run of all constituency executives who would form the Electoral College to elect an MP for the constituency.
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