NDC Foot Soldiers Grabbed In Tema

The Police in Tema yesterday arrested National Democratic Congress (NDC) foot soldiers for allegedly embarking on unlawful demonstration against the nomination of Isaac Odamtten as Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE). The NDC members invaded the premises of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) to present a petition to the Presiding Member, Raymond Akahoho, amid demonstrations. However, the police appeared on the scene and accosted the foot soldiers, who were clad in red and chanting war songs. The Presidency on Monday nominated Mr Odamtten, a banker and pastor from among three shortlisted names pencilled in for the MCE position. The nomination had since sparked a lot of protest and confusion which culminated in the demonstration in the area. The aggrieved persons, about 100, were led by two people, who are believed to be in police grip. The two are suspected to be the supporters of George Medie, one of the losing contenders for the MCE position. The demonstrators blocked the assembly premises while some blew whistles with others brandishing sticks, clubs and making deafening noise to attract attention. Later, when the police got wind of the demonstration at the assembly, they quickly dispatched personnel to the scene and apprehended the leaders for breaching the Public Order Law. This was allegedly done at the behest of Emmanuel Adzie-Annan, a member of the Council of State, who ordered the foot soldiers to be arrested for protesting against the nominee. Mr Medie was said to have been invited and detained by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) after being questioned by the police for instigating the demonstration without police permit. The two persons were being interrogated with their caution statement taken, according to information picked by DAILY GUIDE from a source at the Tema Regional Police Command. But the police were tight-lipped about the arrest. Some NDC lawyers were reported to have gone to the Regional Police Command, upon hearing the arrest, to secure bail for them. But, as at the time of filing this report, the police were yet to grant the suspects bail. From Vincent Kubi, Tema