I'll send reporter into exile -Obuasi MP

Three days after the unlawful arrest and detention of Albert Nana Asante, the Obuasi Chronicle Reporter, it has now been confirmed that his arrest was caused by the Obuasi Member of Parliament, Mr. Edward Ennin.

The Chronicle investigations have revealed that the MP expressed his intention to arrest the reporter some days before his arrest.

Mr. Ennin told one of the FM Stations in the country that, ?I fear no media and that I will pursue and arrest the reporter unless he leaves the country.?

In his comments, which were monitored by The Chronicle, the MP said the reporter was tarnishing his image and that he vowed heaven and earth to cause his arrest.

Mr. Ennin explained that before the 2004 elections the reporter had wanted to discredit him but he failed to succeed and that is why he has started writing defamatory stories about him.

The MP accused The Chronicle reporter of inaccurate reporting and also selling out to the public a news item about him, which he retrieved from the Ghanaweb.

The MP said The Chronicle was against him during the NPP primaries and again blamed Albert Nana Asante for writing unfavourable stories about him during that time.

The Chronicle last Thursday published a story captioned ?Obuasi MP exposed? and the same story was on Ghana web and the MP felt the reporter was damaging in his image.

Consequently, he influenced a police constable Derek Asiamah to cause the arrest and detention of the reporter with the support of his two brothers in the early hours on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Obuasi press corps has condemned the manner Albert Nana Asante was arrested and detained.

In the statement signed and issued by Mr. Richard Kojo Ellimah, the secretary, on Tuesday, this week the press corps said ?if the action of the MP and his brothers was meant to cow the Press to submit to their selfish political whims, then they are badly mistaken since no amount of intimidation will soften our resolve to serve the people of Obuasi.