Disqualified NPP parliamentary aspirant threatens to kill

Tema, May 19, GNA -- Having been disqualified from contesting the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Tema East Constituency primaries, Mr Ramseyer Agyeman Prempeh, a candidate has allegedly threatened to kill Mr Charles Boateng, the Constituency Secretary.

Police Inspector Olivia Turkson, Tema Regional Police Public Affairs Officer who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema on Monday said the threat was reported to the Regional CID on Saturday at about 1700 hours.

Mr Prempeh, a 35 year old Education Consultant/Proprietor of Tema High School was among four people who expressed interest in contesting the seat on the party's ticket, but was disqualified by the vetting committee on the grounds that he contested the constituency seat as an independent candidate in the last elections.

Inspector Turkson noted that Mr Boateng accompanied by Mr Ishmael Ashitey, Member of Parliament for the constituency and other NPP supporters told the police that he was in a meeting at the MP's house when Mr Prempeh called him on his cell phone.

The Constituency Secretary told the police: "He called me on my mobile phone and threatened to kill me and the chairman, Mr Ken Obeng-Fosu".

He further told the police; "Agyeman added that I can report to the police and that he is ready to go to Nsawam".

Inspector Turkson said the police have listened to a recording of the alleged threat issued to the Constituency Secretary as well as taken statements from witnesses adding however that, all efforts made by the investigator and the Regional Crime Officer to get Mr Prempeh on phone had proved futile.

She explained that the police would have no other option than to issue criminal summons against Mr Prempeh as he has refused to answer any call from the police.

The Police Public Affairs Officer assured that the police would investigate the case and prosecute Mr Prempeh adding that it is a pure criminal case and no political meaning would be read into it. Meanwhile the constituency primaries which was to be held on May 17 was postponed to May 24 with the excuse that the aspirants have not been given ample time to communicate with delegates.

The three qualified aspirants are the incumbent MP, Mr Ishmael Ashitey, Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, ex-Mayor of Tema and Mr Daniel Titus-Clover, a Labour Consultant.