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General News of Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Source: Daily Searchlight

NDC Men Beat Up Radio Panelist

.Over Atta Mills' 'Fishermen Troubles'!

Darlington ANTOBAM reports

Some gurus of the Central Regional branch of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) last Friday stormed the studios of Ahomka FM at Elmina to beat up a radio panelist to the pulp.

The infamous incident occurred during the Ahomka FM morning show programme which was being hosted by Dela.

According to the Daily Searchlight scouts present at the Ahomka FM, the panelist, whose name was given as Isaac Newton Dick was making his submissions on issues that had been raised by the fishermen in and around Moree at a press conference as well as a story this newspaper had carried on its front page last Friday regarding the huge price hikes in the outboard motors when suddenly two machomen led by Manoma, a leading NDC member in that area stormed the Ahomka studios unannounced and beat the panelist up, and consequently warned him to be careful else he will be made to go to the world beyond any time soon.

Our scouts pointed out that Manoma who was coincidentally listening to the programme at the time became unhappy with the comments Isaac Newton Dick was making and therefore quickly marshalled his people and dashed to the Ahomka studios where the talk show was going to teach the panelist a lesson.

When peace was finally was restored the panelist who was brutally assaulted quickly went to the Cape Coast regional police command to report the matter following which this newspaper has learned that Manoma was invited for questioning.

We tried to reach Manoma on his phone yesterday to speak with him over the matter but could not get him personally. One Eddy who described himself as a friend to Manoma picked the phone.

Speaking on his Manoma's behalf, Eddy stated that the panelist was not beaten, and therefore, described the story as false, even though staff at Ahomka FM have said the incident did happen, and quite apart from that the victim spoke to this newspaper about it.

This is the third time such an incident is taking place since the NDC took over the power from the Kufuor- led New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

The first of its kind occurred at Top radio in Accra when Kofi Adams, special aide to former president Jerry John Rawlings, caused the arrest of Nana Baafi, an NPP radio panelist for claiming the former president allegedly burnt his own house.

Just as the nation was about to put the matter to rest another radio panelist was arrested in Kumasi for allegedly insulting the president.

Discerning Ghanaians are however worried about this sort of arrest and brutalities and fear the nation could go back to the days when people were brutalized.