Opinions of Friday, 17 September 2010

Columnist: Amankona, Kwame

Why is Government mute on Eric Opoku's Death?

By: Kwame Amankona (Sankore)

There is no mystery surrounding who killed Kwame Nyame a relative of the incumbent Member of Parliament for the Sankore –Asunafo constituecy in the Brong Ahafo Region. Kwame Nyame, a famer and an evangelist of the Deeper Life Chirstian Ministry was allegedly shot by Kwasi Adu on the 19th of July 2009 during a rampage at Sankore.

We all know the alleged killer is currently facing prosecution. However, what really continues to baffle the good people of Sankore is the way in which the current government has kept silence on the Deputy Minister's involvment. No reason could be deduced for the cold-blooded murder which sent a chill down the spines of many people of Sankore.

It is clear and none of the NDC government's officials can convince the people of Sankore that the Deputy Brong Ahafo Reginal Minister had no hand in the killing. Everything seems very dead about the Deputy Minister's involvement, is it because somebody has been made to run for his life for being a witness and the good people of Sankore made to shut up?

I could remember reports had it that the Deputy Regional Minister made a phone call to a witness at one midnight and threatened to deal with him. I learnt the other day that one Jerry Addo, a resident in Sankore who happened to be at the scene and made a report also knew of Kwasi Adu's hide out at the Minister's residence in Sakumono has also fled the town because of recurrent attacks and other military brutalities going on in the town.

The people at Sankore have been shocked into coercive silence, because information rumoured in town months ago was that some Military personnel with full backing of the officials of the ruling NDC government in the Brong Ahafo Region have released a secret hit list of names of many NPP members who helped the incumbent Member of Parliament of Asunafo South, Hon. George Boakye, wrestle the seat from the NDC Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister.

Many questions have been asked about the whereabouts of Eric Asubonteng who was amongst the men who caused Kwasi Adu's arrest from under the Deputy Minster's bed.

The suspect was arrested under the Deputy Minister's bed, after lying he can't even make them out if they were to assemble the youths who had been on the wanted list of the Sankore police. Why haven't the police arrested the Deputy Minster to answer charges of habouring a murder suspect? Spare me thi….that he is immune to prosecution!

Mr Eric Opoku has vowed to make sure Kwasi Adu walks a freeman after his remand because of his position as a Deputy Minister. We should not overlook the fact that this is the first time in the history of international crime that an alleged murderer has been pulled out under the bed of a Deputy Minister in the ruling Government. And up till now, nothing has been done to the minister. He still keeps his ministerial portfolio. Do we need to remind the President of this? Is Eric Opoku above the law? Is this what the NDC government calls accountability? The people of Sankore need an answer!