Wontumi To Campaign Against 'Election Violence�...Foots Medical Bills Of Beaten Journalist

He has been tagged as a ‘political troublemaker’ – but that perception about him will soon be wiped out after his initiative to campaign against political violence in the November 7 general elections.

Chairman Wontumi as affectionately called in politics was recently accused of hiring thugs to assault and destruct an election in Manhyia North Constituency to elect new executives.

A Kumasi-based broadcast journalist, Osei Tutu was beaten in line of duty – but the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako has assured to bear the cost of all medical expenses after condemning the attack.

The NPP chairman has also pledged to duly compensate the victim for the suffering incurred as a result of the unfortunate incident.

Chairman Wontumi gave the assurance at a meeting called at his behest in the party's regional office to formally render the party's sincere apology to the journalist and to assure media personnel in the region of the opposition party's readiness to ensure a smooth working relationship.

"Everybody knows how the NPP and me personally adore and respect journalists in the country, what happened at Manhyia North was highly unfortunate and I promise it would never happen again," he told Peacefmonline.com

The Broadcast Journalist reportedly suffered several beatings at the hands of some suspected NPP supporters at the Manhyia North Constituency whilst covering elections meant to select executives in some outstanding polling stations in the constituency ahead of a crucial constituency primary slated for Sunday.

But the victim has debunked claims that Chairman Wontumi was behind his attack – according to him, the incident was unfortunate – “Chairman Wontumi was not behind it as claimed.”

The NPP leading member however pledged to cooperate with the security in order to ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly attack were brought to book.

According to him, the matter will be treated as a criminal offence - assuring that the party will not shield any member found culpable.

He further gave the assurance that his office would do well to strengthen the smooth working relationship with the media in the region – after assuring to start a campaign to kick against political violence in this coming election.

Meanwhile, the victim of the attack has allegedly fingered the incumbent Member of Parliament as being the brain behind his attack.

According to him, he overheard the MP loud and clear on the fateful day ordering some thugs to beat him because he (the MP) thought he was videoing an incident that was going on during a constituency polling station election.

"It was Hon. Collins Owusu Amankwaah who ordered his guys to beat me; I heard him loud and clear," Osei Tutu stated during the meeting.