Matthew Opoku Prempeh
The NPP Member of Parliament for Manhyia Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh was Friday arrested by the Ashanti Regional Police over a shooting incident two persons were injured.
He was later granted bail of GH¢30,000 as surety.
The MP was said to be on a house-to-house campaign at Abirem near Ashtown when a member of his team whose name was given as Gausu allegedly fired gunshots wounding one Maphus and the sister. A group of young people said to be supporters of the MP allegedly pounced on Maphus and inflicted severe cutlass wounds on him.
Maphus was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on Thursday. He has since undergone plastic surgery. Doctors told Nhyira FM’s Ohemeng Tawiah his condition is now stable.
Maphus’ mother told the police there was a longstanding dispute between the son and Gausu. Regional Commander DCOP Augustine Gyening, told the media the police is treating the case as a purely criminal one.
Dr Opoku Prempeh popularly known as Napo was arrested and granted bail after his caution statement was taken.
Public relations officer of the Ashanti regional Police Command ASP Mohammed Tanko, told Joy News Dr Opoku Prempeh reported himself to the police on Friday afternoon.
He said witnesses told the police the MP was present when the incident happened; they also alleged that Maphus’ attackers actually emerged from the MP’s car.
Even though he would not give details of Dr Prempeh’s statement to the police, ASP Tanko said he was asked if he knew the attackers but he told them he doesn’t know them nor their whereabouts.
ASP Tanko appealed to persons who know the whereabouts of the attackers, especially the lead suspect Gausu, to report to the police to assist in their investigations.
He assured residents of Ashtown and in the region at large that the police are doing their best to ensure that calm prevails there.
Though MPs have the privilege of being given self-recognizance bail when arrested, ASP Tank explained Dr Prempeh was granted bail with a surety because the case he is involved in is a “serious matter”.
Reverend Emmanuel Asante
Nana Yaw Osei, lawyer of Matthew Opuku Prempeh, told Joy News the incident happened on the “blindside” of the MP.
“It was somebody who alerted him of what happened, he only heard gunshots, and so one man came to tell him to leave the scene.”
He assured the police that his client is a law abiding citizen and would cooperate with them.
Nana Osei, however, said the MP was rather the target of the attack, adding that the incident would not stop him from going about his door-to-door campaigning but said he would be on alert.
Meanwhile, doctors told Luv News’ Erastus Donkor that they have been working to remove a bullet from Muphus’ waist.
The surgeons feared though he would be able to recover, he might be paralyzed due to the severity of the attack on him.
Peace Council is worried
Meanwhile, the incident happened few days after presidential candidates of all the political parties contesting the elections committed themselves to a peace-pact in Kumasi.
Chairman of the National Peace Council Reverend Emmanuel Asante told Joy News’ Elton John Brobbey he is saddened by the development.