Wednesday, May 26, 2010

POLICE DEFEND ARREST OF ADU-GYAMFI (MAY 26, 2010)

THE Ashanti Regional Police Command has stated that it acted within the ambit of the law in arresting Alexander Adu-Gyamfi, a teacher and an NPP activist, who described President John Evans Atta Mills as a chimpanzee.
The Regional Public Affairs Officer of the Command, Chief Inspector Yusif Mohammed Tanko told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the suspect acted in contravention of Section 207 of the Criminal Code by denigrating the President with that description.
He said the statement was an offensive conduct, which was prosecutable under the laws of the land.
According to him the Regional CID, which had taken over the case would put him before court.
Some people have criticised the police for the arrest of Adu-Gyamfi known in radio circles as the High Priest, a known defender of the NPP on radio programmes.
According to the critics, the police acted ultra vires, but the police disagree.
Chief Inspector Tanko said Adu-Gyamfi was released yesterday afternoon and was asked to report to the Police CID for further investigations today.
Adu-Gyamfi, 37, who is said to be a teacher at an Islamic school in Kumasi, described President Mills as a chimpanzee during the morning show on Fox FM in Kumasi.
Just after passing the comment, a crowd of NDC supporters massed up at the station’s premises calling for the blood of the suspect.
On receiving information about developments at the radio station, Police moved in quickly to save the situation by whisking Adu-Gyamfi away.
The Regional Command led by Regional Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbillah convened a meeting attended by various groups and the suspect and after evidence proved that the man made the disparaging comments against the President, the matter was referred to the CID for further investigations.

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