Information available to Today indicates that after a combined team of National Security operatives and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) personnel stormed the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi, to interrogate the Mayor of Kumasi, Samuel Sarpong, over an alleged gun wielding saga between him and his son, Samuel Sarpong Jnr., the mayor has now thrown caution to the wind and started victimising anybody whom he suspects of foul play.
Instead of reprimanding his son for his stubborn attitude which has dragged his (Mr Sarpong’s) name into the mad, this paper can confirm that Mr Sarpong has rather fired his bodyguard, by name Zubeiru, and driver, name not readily available, both of whom have served him since his appointment.
Their mistake? The mayor suspects one of them might have leaked the story to the Daily Guide newspaper which has landed him in such big trouble; “Castle finds the saga very staining for which he might be punished accordingly.”
Today can disclose that the policeman (body guard) has since reported at the Central Police Station Buffallo Unit in Kumasi where he has started work.
Nothing has so far been heard of the dismissed driver.
Deep throat sources indicate that Zubeiru who reported at the Unit on Tuesday has been tight- lipped as he has been threatened with a transfer from Ashanti Region should any information on his dismissal from the mayor’s office be heard anywhere in the media.
Even though the Kumasi mayor is alleged to have told the interrogation panel that his son was out of the country during the alleged incident, several people have set eyes on Sammy (the young man) several times this week driving on the streets of Ahodwo Nhyiaeso in Kumasi where his father’s official residence is located.
Snippets of information gathered from the meeting indicates that Mr Sarpong who has escaped Professor Mills’ reshuffle several times because of his strong bonds with certain ‘influential personalities’ in the country was so uneasy when entering the conference room where the meeting was being held to the extent that he was seen sweating profusely in the air conditioned room.
As if to shield his son from the criticism that has been flying over the airwaves in the region since the news broke, the mayor has again called a New Patriotic Party (NPP) serial caller, Michael Ofori Akuoko, popularly known as Gizo, and threatened him with death for daring to speak on the issue on radio.
Gizo has since reported the threat to the Suame Police in Kumasi where investigations into the report have also began.
Gizo told this reporter that the mayor called his phone as soon as he hanged up after speaking on Kumasi-based Angel FM where he commented on the gun pulling saga between the latter and his son, and threatened him.
“He told me that by commenting on the issue I have reduced my number of years on earth and also said I will see,” the not-so-fear stricken young man told this reporter.
The Daily Guide newspaper of Thursday, April 19, 2012 reported that one of the sons of the Kumasi Mayor, Samuel Sarpong Jnr., pulled a gun on his father’s bodyguard Zubeiru threatening to blow his head for peddling several untruths about him to his father.
The report said it took the intervention of the mayor who also pulled another gun on his own son and also threatened to kill him to save the life of the policeman. After which the Mayor called in some police personnel from the Buffallo Unit of the Central Police station to take the young man away and teach him some lessons.
The report also alleged that later when the mayor thought tempers had calmed down he called the regional police commander to release his son who was then at the counter back of the Buffallo Police Unit.
However, the mayor flatly denied all those allegations when queried by the security team who were allegedly unfriendly to him due to the weightiness ‘castle had placed on the report about him.’
Even though all indications pointed to the fact that the Mayor had ‘swerved’ the security team, our source was cork sure that they would be in Kumasi for a while and conduct some more investigations on their own before leaving to Accra since “they didn’t believe whatever he said.” “But they have to also get evidence first.”
“It was not a good report at all, for the son of a mayor to pull a gun on a policeman and the Mayor also ordering his release from the police, what do you think political opponents will say about this,” the source said quietly.
STORY: FROM JAMES APPIAKORANG JR., KUMASI
