<<Print>>

The Breman UGC Police in Kumasi have begun investigations into the circumstances under which a 10 year old boy was abducted and maltreated by some suspected thugs of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) last week Wednesday at Bremang, in the Suame constituency. The police have mounted a search for the thugs, who allegedly picked the innocent boy from his house in Bremang, after returning from school, and subjected him to inhumane treatment. The victim, whose name has been withheld for security reasons, is currently undergoing treatment, after his assailant allegedly tortured him with an object suspected to be a hot iron, resulting in bruises and abrasions all over his body. The crime of the innocent boy, according to investigations by The Chronicle, was his decision to mount a campaign platform last week Monday at Bremang, during a rally organised by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), and pleaded with the electorate to vote for the flagbearer of the party to make the free Senior High School campaign become a reality. According to information, the victim reportedly went to the campaign grounds and insisted he be allowed to mount the podium, against the wish of the Master of Ceremonies (MC) and other prominent supporters of the party, who were present at the rally. But, in spite of the refusal by the MC and other people to allow the boy mount the podium, he insisted, and after several pleas, the MC was told to give the microphone to the boy. After being handed the microphone, the victim reportedly told the crowd that he had lost his parents, and that his grandmother, who he was staying with, was finding it difficult taking care of him in school, since she did not have money. According to the boy, he was sometimes forced to stay out of school because his grandma did not have money to pay his school fees. His plea, therefore, was that people should vote for the flagbearer of the opposition party, Nana Akufo-Addo, so that he could introduce his free education policy for the benefit of people like him, and others whose parents were poor. However, misfortune was to befall the poor two days after making the appearance and receiving applause from supporters who had gathered at the rally grounds. He was allegedly kidnapped and brutally assaulted in what is suspected to be retaliation for supporting the NPP presidential candidate. The incident has reportedly thrown neighbours living in and around the area into a state of shock, as some of them are also dreading that a similar fate could befall them, should they decide to openly campaign for the opposition party. The grandmother, who is currently taking care of the poor boy, was also alleged to have experienced some emotional pain, and had to be admitted into a hospital. Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for the Constituency, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has condemned the incident, describing it as barbaric, inhumane, and devilish. The MP, who is also the Minority Leader in Parliament, said the incident gave further credence to the position that the ruling NDC was violent and intolerant to opposing views. �How can a party decide to treat an innocent child this way? I don�t know the kind of blood that runs through the people who committed such an atrocity. It must be condemned by everyone. I am expecting the police to bring those people to justice,� he noted. Meanwhile, the MP has also agreed to shoulder the medical bills of the victim, and has already given an undisclosed amount of money to the grandmother to cover their medical bills.