Wontumi arrest: I won’t condemn solidarity mob – Blay

Mr Freddie Blay, Acting Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has said that the massing up of supporters of the opposition party in the Ashanti Region at the Kumasi Central Police Station on Tuesday May 3 was to show the party’s solidarity with their beleaguered regional chairman who was arrested the same day.

Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, nicknamed Chairman Wontumi, was arrested after he reported himself to police to aid investigations into an assault complaint against him by two persons, prompting several activists of the party to troop to the police station.

Chairman Wontumi was alleged to have slapped the Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, Collins Amankwah, also of the NPP, and the party’s secretary in that constituency, Felix Ibrahim at a registration centre at Krofrom as they monitored the limited voter registration exercise on Sunday May 1.

Speaking with Prince Menkah on the Executive Breakfast Show on Class91.3FM Wednesday May 4, Mr Blay insisted the action of party supporters to throng the police station was an act of solidarity.

“Of course, they want to find out why their chairman has been arrested! They have gone to the police station… Do you want me to condemn that?” he asked.

He said there was “nothing wrong” with the action by party faithful given it was an instinctive thing to do when a close person finds themselves in a difficult situation.

Mr Blay said he had yet to apprise himself of the reasons for Mr Antwi Boasiako’s arrest, and would wait for a briefing before commenting on the circumstances that led to his detention.

“I don’t know the reasons for his arrest. He is alleged to have slapped somebody? I don’t know, I don’t have the full story, I can’t pass judgement, I can’t express an opinion,” the former Ellembelle MP stated.

“Even as a lawyer, when somebody says he’s been slapped, maybe the person is lying, maybe the person was provoked before he used his hand on anybody. These are some of the possibilities, so don’t ask me if I am in support or if I condemn it. No, don’t ask me that question.”

Mr Wontumi was whisked to court on Wednesday May 4 but the complainants have written to the court to have the case settled out of court. Mr Wontumi returns to court on June 1, 2016, after being granted a GHS20,000 bail.