�I�m Afraid For My Life� - Kwabena Agyepong

�Looking at what happened at the party�s headquarters on Tuesday, I can even be attacked in my office; if I don�t take care�I need to have my own security; people I can trust and who can protect the party�s property, myself and other executives�� A press conference organised by the Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Paul Afoko and his General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong on Tuesday turned bloody when some unknown thugs wielding cudgels and machetes stormed the NPP Headquarters and disrupted the press briefing. It took police intervention to calm things down. The duo, especially Mr Agyepong has come under severe condemnation after he asked the Acting Deputy Communications Director, Perry Okudzeto to proceed on leave. He subsequently appointed new Deputy Directors of Communication for the party without consulting the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the Steering Committee of the NPP. The duo therefore decided to hold the press briefing to clarify various issues surrounding Perry�s proceed-on-leave letter and the accusation that they are acting in violation of the party�s constitution. However, things turned bloody as armed men wielding cutlasses and dangerous weapons seized the New Patriotic Party�s headquarters, smashed a car, seized cameras belonging to various media houses and engaged in all sorts of commotion. Speaking in an interview on Wednesday morning, Kwabena Agyepong told Kwami Sefa Kayi that he fears for his life after Tuesday�s incident. �Looking at what happened at the party�s headquarters on Tuesday, I can even be attacked in my office; if I don�t take care�I need to have my own security; people I can trust and who can protect the party�s property, myself and other executives�Within a twinkle of an eye there were machetes all over� �how can I feel safe working with a group of men who have shown the potential to harm me. They have machete and other tools which are not needed by party security men. They can harm me and I won�t wait for them to do that� he indicated. Answering to why they didn�t invite the rest of the executives for the press conference, Kwabena Agyepong said they are the ones being attacked and accused and �we needed to tell our side of the story�. Before the press conference, a lot of people asked us to stop; they said the press briefing should not come on but I told them we needed to tell our side of the story. We have been insulted and accused especially in the media and none of you asked them (accusers) to stop. The press conference must come on for Ghanaians to judge for themselves. He debunked claims that he and his Chairman are autocratic saying �we are very open and transparent. Our doors are opened to everyone and anyone can walk into our office to ask questions...The impression is being created that we are autocratic and it is not true�.