Former President John Dramanai Mahama has kick-started a criminal proceeding against the Bono Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for publishing “false news” about him.
Kwame Baffoe alias “Abronye DC” is alleged to have accused the former president of plotting to assassinate some key members of the NPP including Abronye himself.
The criminal complaint filed by his counsel, Tony Lithur of Lithur Brew law firm, was addressed to the Director General, Criminal Investigations Department of Police, on Monday, drawing the attention of the security agency to an infringement on Section 208 of Act 29 which talks about publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm.
The Inspector General of Police was copied in the letter.
“My instructions are that in a recording of a TV programme on Net 2 TV, Madina, Accra, which has been circulating on various social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, Abronye DC made certain false claims, alleging a plot mastermind by the NDC and His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, to assassinate some NPP personalities including he, Abronye DC, himself.
“On the programme, Abronye DC announced to the general public that some NPP personalities would be assassinated by NDC hirelings who would be wearing NPP T-shirts, and that these hirelings would be doing the bidding of Former President John Mahama. On the same programme, Abronye DC stated that President John Mahama ‘killed President John Evans Atta-Mills’.”
A copy of the video recording of the said programme was added as part of Mr. Mahama’s complaint to the police.
President Mahama also denied the allegations, saying they are despicable, and suggesting that accused may be deranged for also claiming he killed former President Mills.
“His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, has firmly instructed me to say that the allegations are, of course, false; and for the avoidance of doubt, would like to state that neither the NDC nor he has planned to hire, hired or cause to be hired, or instructed any person or persons to murder or assassinate anybody.
“Regarding the rather irreverent and despicable allegation that he killed the late President John Evans Atta Mills, he would not dignify it with any answer, except to say that the allegation could only have come from an unhinged mind.”
Mr. Mahama was not happy that Abronye DC was not called to order when he made similar “scurrilous, outrageous and scandalous allegations” against him and the NDC in the past.
The letter to the police CID was clear that although Abronye DC’s “inflammatory accusations” were politically motivated, they are to expose the former president and members of NDC to attacks.
“My final instructions are therefore to kindly request you to use your good offices to cause investigations to be conducted into the Abronye DC’s false allegations and their publication.”
By Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana