NPP CHAIRMAN ARRESTED.

A Cape Coast circuit court presided over by Berexford Acquah yesterday granted bail in the sum of GH¢3,000 to the Assin North constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Fiifi Baako, who was arrested in connection with a robbery case.Baako, who was charged with abetment of crime, pleaded not guilty and is to re-appear on April 1, 2009.The other two accomplices who are now at large, James Kweku Acheampong and Julius Nyamson, were charged with robbery.Granting the bail, Mr Acquah said since Mr Baako was only charged with abetment, the court could grant him bail for the police to do their investigations.The lawyer for the accused, Rev Ato Mills Graves, said it was not necessary for the police to arrest Mr Baako since it was the responsibility of the Member of Parliament (MP) to provide cars for supporters to monitor the election.Rev Mills said the accused did not know anything about the case and that the police should do their investigations.The Chairman, who was picked up on Tuesday by the Central Regional Police Command to assist with investigations into an alleged robbery case reported against some NPP supporters in his constituency, had some freedom that same day.Mr. Baako, who reported to the police on Tuesday around 10am, was detained till 5pm and was granted GH¢5,000 bail to report at the station on Wednesday at 2pm.He was however arrested again on Wednesday and processed for court yesterday.Presenting the facts before the court, Superintendent Kwadwo Antwi Tabil said the complainants in the case are Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe and Dr. Percival Kurankye, both members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).Superintendent Tabil noted that on December 7, 2008 during the general elections, the complainants were on a campaign tour in the Assin North constituency to monitor the elections at various polling stations.Prosecution explained that when the complainants got to Assin Akropong, some NPP adherents who were using cars with registration numbers ER1981W (Toyota Land cruiser), a Range Rover and Ford bus, allegedly attacked the now Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe and collected her money valued at GH¢5,850.According to Superintendent Tabil, Madam Benyiwa Doe, who doubles as Women’s Organizer for the NDC, and Dr. Kurankye had their two Nokia mobile phones, a lady’s bag and an Ecobank cheque book belonging to the latter, stolen.Resisting the attack, Madam Doe was allegedly hit on the right hand by the accused persons, who are currently at large.Subsequently, a report was made at the Assin Foso Police Station where they were arrested but jumped police enquiry bail.Superintendent Tabil said further police investigations revealed that the constituency chairman distributed the vehicles for the NPP youth, who undertook such an act.Meanwhile, the Regional Commander said because the security was busy during the election, his outfit suspended investigations on the case and had now taken up the case.Reports indicated that one of the cars belonged to the Assin-North MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.Baako has been ordered to produce the alleged perpetrators or would be sent to court and charged with conspiracy to robbery since he is the constituency chairman and must be held responsible for that.
Source:Daily Guide