NDC violence: I’m not on police enquiry bail – Yamoah-Ponkoh

A former Municipal Chief Executive for Ejisu-Juabeng Afrifa Yamoah-Ponkoh has said it will be erroneous to describe his invitation by the police as an arrest.

The leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had his residence searched Tuesday before being driven to the Ashanti regional police command over a shooting incident at the party’s office.

One person died in the gun battle leaving several others injured as members of a vigilante unit linked to the largest opposition party clashed at the regional office of the party.

The police are on a manhunt for four suspects in connection with the shooting.

After spending some hours at the Central Police Station, Yamoah-Ponkoh told the media he had “a friendly chat” with the police and was never arrested.

“It’s an unfortunate situation [the shooting incident] and some of us were traumatized,” the former MCE said.

“I was not arrested and how can I be granted bail if I wasn’t arrested,” Yamoah-Ponkoh stated.

“Two police men came to my house and said the commander wants to have a chat with me and they said before then they want to search the house… They didn’t see anything and I followed them to the regional commander.

“When I came here it was more friendly and I briefed them and he asked one of the investigators to write down my statement and they asked me to wait a bit and after I was asked to go.”

Meanwhile, the government has condemned Monday’s shooting incident.

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah in a statement said: “Government expresses condolences to the bereaved family, wishes the injured a speedy recovery and urges the Police to speed up investigations to bring the perpetrators to book.”

He added: “Government reiterates that violence should be eschewed from all spheres of our national life.  Citizens and Groups are further encouraged to desist from actions that create a state of insecurity in our nation.”

The former president John Mahama has also condemned the shooting incident.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh