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Regional News of Wednesday, 17 March 2004

Source: Chronicle

BambaGate: Pressure Mounts On DCE To Resign

Bole (N.R) -- Following The Chronicle?s revelations about the scandalous activities of the Hon Alhaji Moctar Musah Bamba, former deputy minister at the office of the President and MP for Wenchi East, intense pressure is being exerted on the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bole, Alhaji Adam Achanso, who happened to be a special assistant to Alhaji Bamba, to resign.

Some NPP members loyal to the Bole-Bamboi constituency chairman, Alhaji Mahama are said to have initiated the move by calling on President Kufuor to remove the DCE if he failed to resign, for his alleged involvement in the Bamba scandal.

But The Chronicle?s investigation has revealed that the supporters of the DCE have vowed to clamp down on all those who would do anything to harm him.

The District Police Commander, Raymond Martey confirmed that three persons sustained injuries following a clash between the factions supporting the constituency chairman and the DCE.

Two of the injured were identified as Amadu Salifu Oluwinter, a loyalist of the constituency chairman and Amadu Bukari also known as Amadu Kusah for the DCE.

Mr. Martey said the incident happened as a result of a series of media reports attributed to Oluwinter against the DCE.

According him Oluwinter made some allegations against Alhaji Achamso in a talk show programme on the Radio Upper West, at Wa in which he made reference to the DCE?s alleged involvement in the Alhaji Bamba affair and malpractice in the award of contracts.

The police commander said following the media reports supporters of the DCE were calling for the blood of Oluwinter.

He said the District Security Committee (DISEC) invited Oluwinter to a meeting to find solution to the growing tension in the town but he rejected it on the grounds that it was the DCE who ordered that he be invited.

He was also invited to the Bolewura?s palace twice but said the DCE wanted to use his office to intimidate him.

Later, however, The Chronicle learnt that Oluwinter, accompanied by two companions, Haruna Mahama and Emmanuel Okra alias Oldman, met the District Police Commander at the District Coordinating Director?s office.

Mr. Martey said when Oluwinter came the DISEC advised him to be cautious, because his life was in danger.

Haruna, a student-journalist who also writes for The Statesman newspaper, was said to have replied that no one could beat Oluwinter in Bole.

In the course of the discussions, Mr. Amadu Bukari, District Sports Organizer, came in to brief the Coordinating director on preparations towards the independence day parade in Bole.

He overheard the pronouncement by Haruna and he intervened to rebuke him.

This did not go down well with Oluwinter and his escorts and they began to exchange words in the Gonja language and the meeting ended.

Mr. Martey said in the night of March 3, both Oluwinter and the sports organizer came and reported to the police that they had been assaulted.

Amadu Kusah complained that Haruna and Okra pushed him off his motorbike while Oluwinter and others attacked him.

But later the children of Amadu Kusah mobilized to face Oluwinter and his group and subjected them to severe beatings, which they also reported to the police.

The DCE told The Chronicle that when he saw the publications by Oluwinter in the Evening News he decided not to comment, because the Chief of Staff had advised him not to do so.

He said Oluwinter?s publications on the radio and in the print media accused him of involvement in all the scandals of Alhaji Bamba, which, according to him, was not true.