No Interference In Journalist Assault Case - Kofi Boakye

The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nathan Kofi Boakye, has debunked reports that some high profiled personalities were trying to interfere with the assault case against former Black Stars player, Baffuor Gyan and an errand boy of his brother, Asamoah Gyan. According to him, he was not under any pressure whatsoever; neither was he being influenced from any quarters to drop the case. DCOP Boakye�s response followed media reports that some personalities were trying to interfere in the alleged assault. Baffuor Gyan and Samuel Anim Addo have been charged in court for leading an assault on the Ashanti Regional correspondent of the Daily Graphic, Daniel Kenu last Friday. On Monday, it was reported by some radio stations that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for instance was to impress upon the leadership of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) to speak to Daniel Kenu not to pursue the matter in court. This report was broadcast Monday morning ahead of a courtesy call by the leadership of the GJA on the Asantehene in Kumasi that same day. Again, there were other reports that said that the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Mahama Ayariga had phoned the Regional Police Commander to impress on him not to take the matter to court along side leading personalities in football circles who had all called on the police not to prosecute the matter in court. But responding, DCOP Boakye said, �As far as I�m concerned, nobody has interfered with this case. We have finished our work, established a prima facie case and charged them with assault.� DCOP Boakye said this when the national executive of the GJA paid a courtesy call on him in Kumasi. He reiterated that the police was determined to ensure that rule of law prevailed in all cases, irrespective of the social, political and economic status of victims and culprits involved. He said the law was not a respecter of persons that the police would relentlessly execute its constitutional duty of protecting life and property and ensure law and order in the society without fear or favour. The President of the GJA, Mr Affail Monney commended DCOP Boakye for the professional manner he and his men had handled the case, adding that �we know the stuff you are made of as a professional police officer. You are a strategic man at a right place.� �Your love for justice is legendary,� the GJA President stated. He said any attack on any Ghanaian journalist anywhere was an assault on press freedom and a threat to democracy. Mr Monney assured the media fraternity that the leadership of the association would follow the case with keen interests. The elder brother of the captain of the Black Stars, Asamoah Gyan, on Monday appeared before the Kumasi Circuit Court and was charged with assault on Daniel Kenu. In the dock with him was Samuel Anim Addo, an errand boy of Asamoah Gyan. They both pleaded not guilty and the court, presided over by Mr William Boampong admitted them to bail in the sum of GH�30,000 with two sureties to be justified. They are expected to reappear before the court on Friday, September 12, 2014. Facts On September 5, this year, while Mr Kenu was going through the process to acquire his media accreditation for the Ghana-Uganda match at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, the accused persons and others now at large attacked him and subjected him severe beatings. According to the prosecution, it took the intervention of some Good Samaritans to rescue the complainant, who later made a complaint to the police and was issued with a police medical form. Baffour Gyan was said to have led the attack on Mr Kenu for asking Asamoah Gyan whether or not he had any responses to rumours that he used his friend, Castro, for ritual purposes. Castro, the popular musician, who went missing with a female friend while jet-skiing at Ada, had gone to the holiday resort with Asamoah Gyan to have fun. Baffour Gyan was said to have confronted Mr Kenu with an accusation that his question was distasteful and allegedly assaulted him. A warrant was issued for his arrest, but the accused person turned himself in and was arrested by the police.