Vice President's Office Clarifies Attack On Akufo-Addo�s Boy

John Jinapor, the spokesperson for the Vice President has stated that a �minor incident� that ensued between security details of John Mahama and an official photographer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, has been blown out of proportion. The Daily Guide newspaper in its Monday edition reported that a bodyguard of the vice president on Saturday assaulted Kwadwo Kyeremeh, the official photographer to Nana Akufo-Addo, during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Omanhene of Juaben, Nana Otuo Siriboe. According to the victim, he sought to take a shot of the Vice President when he proceeded to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with Nana Akufo-Addo at the function but he was stopped by one of the bodyguards of Mr. Mahama. Kyeremeh, according to the newspaper, said later one of the guards �told me that I was very stubborn and proceeded to hit me in the chest without any provocation. � Conversely, Jinapor told Citi FM�s Eyewitness News on Monday that the security men were just doing their job and such minor confrontations with photographers, who usually want to step beyond their boundaries to get better shots, are common. �I�m surprised at the twist being given to this minor incident� In the process of surging forward the security men tried to prevent them [camera men] from moving beyond a certain distance. I guess the cameraman of Akufo-Addo was part of those men and so he took offense,� Jinapor said. He said having witnessed the scene, he personally intervened and settled the issue on the spot. �It was a very minor incident and I think that we should not allow that to mar the beauty of that occasion. Even after the programme, the vice president again went to Akufo-Addo and said goodbye to him. �It happens� so it is nothing major to blow out of proportion,� Jinapor said.