According to Appiah Stadium, some unknown assailants entered his house on Sunday, and started throwing bottles and containers with a substance believed to be petrol in them on the compound.

He said they carried out the action amidst firing of gunshots before they eventually lit fire at the premises.

The fire partly burnt a 4×4 vehicle belonging to Appiah Stadium.

He is accusing some elements of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Region, who he said have been threatening his life following his recent criticisms of President Akufo-Addo.

NDC serial caller Appiah Stadium arrested for ‘defaming’ Nana Addo

Appiah Stadium was recently in the news after he was picked up by the Police in the Ashanti Region for suggesting in a viral audio clip that President Akufo-Addo smokes marijuana [wee].

He was transferred to Accra but was released after he rendered an apology to the president for his comment.

President Akufo-Addo also said in a statement on the matter that he had not authorized the Police to effect the arrest.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He said the manner in which the arrest was effected, and how the opposition activist was treated suggests it had political undertones.

[contextly_sidebar id=”8TZ2kxewgQq2Jwm7ApMqpo8p0Ypy6RD8″]Speaking on Eyewitness News, he said the action by the police against Appiah stadium was unfair, and thus called on President Akufo-Addo to order for the immediate release of the suspect.

Appiah stadium was arrested in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday afternoon after he alleged in a viral audio clip that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo smokes marijuana [wee], a banned substance.

He was handcuffed and transported to the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra to answer questions concerning his claims.

But according to Rashid Pelpuo, the police erred in their way of handling the matter.

He described the police as being “overzealous” and acting in the name of the President, when the president may not have authorized them to do so.

“I think that there is something political about it, and that is the reason why I think that it shouldn’t go far. This matter shouldn’t proceed beyond today [Tuesday]. The President should come out and ensure that he dissociates himself from this event and go ahead to order a release. If he wants, he can take his own action. He is the one insulted, he is the one who can take the matter to court, he is the one who can seek justice. And if it bothers on criminality then at one point he can wash his hands off and then the law can take its course. I think Appiah Stadium is being unfairly and unjustly being incarcerated.”

“If they [Police] are overzealous and they are doing it in the name of the president he should come out and say it’s not me [Akufo-Addo],” Rashid Pelpuo said.

Meanwhile, the police have said the arrest is grounded in law and they are looking to have Appiah Stadium substantiate his claim.

A Ghanaian lawyer and former Executive Director of Danquah Institute, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, has suggested that it was wrong for the police to handcuff  Appiah Stadium, for allegedly accusing the President of smoking ‘wee’.

According to him, the president will be “extremely unhappy” over the development.

In a series of Facebook posts on the matter, he said, “These things shouldn’t happen. I can see the president being extremely unhappy about any citizen being arrested for allegedly insulting him. It goes against all that he stands for. I may not be privy to the details, but I know whatever the justification the President will not like this one bit…He [Appiah Stadium] could have been invited without the handcuffs. Very unnecessary; uncool.”

Akufo-Addo will not press charges against Appiah Stadium – Hamid

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has said he is not interested in pressing charges against Appiah Stadium.

The Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid, in a release copied to citifmonline.com, indicated that Akufo-Addo has informed the Police Administration of his position on the matter.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Appiah Stadium’s arrest politically motivated – Pelpuo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Ashanti Regional Police command, on Tuesday afternoon, effected Appiah Stadium’s arrest upon instruction from the National Headquarters.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Kpvk4aKcopubcuih6Jq8u18DiziTsN9H”]He was arrested for suggesting, in a recent audio that went viral, that the President Akufo-Addo smoked marijuana.

Appiah Stadium was subsequently handcuffed and transported to the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra to answer questions concerning his claims.

The development aroused public debate over the legality of the police.

A former minister of state under Mahama administration, Rashid Pelpuo, suggested that the arrest was politically motivated.

He said the manner in which the arrest was effected, and how the opposition NDC activist was treated pointed towards some political undertones.

NDC members stand down

Members of the NDC in the Ashanti Region were demanding his immediate release and gave the government a 24-hour ultimatum.

But after the bail was granted, the NDC members withdrew their ultimatum.

“We wish to inform the general public of the release of Appiah Stadium from Police custody this evening at about 8:30pm. We will, therefore, like to back-down on our earlier 24 hours ultimatum given to the Akufo-Addo led government for the release of Appiah Stadium,” they said in a statement.

Appiah stadium reciting from ‘NDC propaganda book’

The government has also said President Akufo-Addo will not press charges against the NDC communicator.

The Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid, in a release copied to citifmonline.com, indicated that Akufo-Addo has informed the Police Administration of his position on the matter.

The statement said President Akufo-Addo was convinced that “right-thinking Ghanaians recognize that Appiah Stadium is merely reciting from an NDC propaganda book, which has since been discredited.”

This issue was brought to the for in February 2015 following a series of publications in pro-NDC newspapers making similar claims.

Lawyers for then Nana Akufo-Addo took these newspapers; The Al-Hajj, Enquirer, Informer, Ghanaian Lens and the Daily Post to the National Media Commission (NMC) to afford them the opportunity to substantiate their claims.

They failed to do so, following which the NMC asked them to retract and apologize.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Appiah Stadium released on bail appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Appiah stadium was arrested after suggesting in a recent audio that went viral, that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo smokes marijuana [wee].

[contextly_sidebar id=”47ciwXiJlLRPg5S1yNmUAf7EYlUt0oev”]The former Minister of state in charge of Private Public Partnership under John Dramani Mahama’s presidency in an interview on Eyewitness News, said “If the president is not aware of the arrest, he should, right now order the release of this gentleman. It is not acceptable,’’ he said

He further said if the police acted on their own accord, the president must come out publicly and disassociate himself, alleging that the arrest was politically motivated.

“I think that there is something political about it, and that is the reason why I think that it shouldn’t go far. This matter shouldn’t proceed beyond today [Tuesday]. The President should come out and ensure that he dissociates himself from this event and go ahead to order a release. If he wants, he can take his own action. He is the one insulted, he is the one who can take the matter to court, he is the one who can seek justice. And if it bothers on criminality then at one point he can wash his hands off and then the law can take its course. I think Appiah Stadium is being unfairly and unjustly being incarcerated.”

“If they [Police] are overzealous and they are doing it in the name of the president, he should come out and say it’s not me [Akufo-Addo],” Rashid Pelpuo added.

He argued that many people made similar defamatory comments against former presidents Atta-Mills and Mahama, yet they were not treated the way Appiah stadium is being treated by the police.

Meanwhile, the police have said they did no wrong in arresting Appiah stadium. The Director of Public Affairs of the Police Service, David Eklu, said they wanted him to substantiate his claims.

Akufo-Addo will not press charges against Appiah Stadium – Hamid

President Akufo-Addo has said he is not interested in pressing charges against Appiah Stadium.

The Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid, in a release copied to citifmonline.com, indicated that Akufo-Addo has informed the Police Administration of his position on the matter.

–

By: Ann-Shirley Ziwu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Order Appiah Stadium’s release – Pelpuo to Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid, in a release copied to citifmonline.com, indicated that Akufo-Addo has informed the Police Administration of his position on the matter.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wuYpSZVD1jylH2HhhxHwqf0EPkfpqjuU”]The Ashanti Regional Police command on Tuesday afternoon effected Appiah stadium’s arrest upon instruction from the National Headquarters.

Appiah Stadium was subsequently handcuffed and transported to the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra to answer questions concerning his claims.

The development aroused public debate over whether or not the police was acting according to law.

Although the Director of Public Affairs of the Police Service, ASP David Eklu, said the Police had the right to arrest him, a former Minister of State under the John Mahama government said the arrest was not right since the President had not reported the case or pressed charges against Appiah Stadium.

Mustapha Hamid in the statement said, “H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo wishes to state that he is not interested in pursuing the matter in issue since same was ruled upon by the National Media Commission (NMC) on February 6, 2015. This followed series of publications in pro-NDC newspapers making similar claims. Lawyers for then Candidate Akufo-Addo took these newspapers namely The Al-Hajj, Enquirer, Informer, Ghanaian Lens and the Daily Post to the NMC to afford them the opportunity to substantiate their claims. The failed to do so, following which the NMC asked them to retract and apologize. The President is therefore, convinced that right-thinking Ghanaians recognize that Appiah Stadium is merely reciting from an NDC propaganda book, which has since been discredited.”

Nana Akufo-Addo, who served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice under the John Kufuor government in 2001, led the government to ensure the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law that saw government controlling private media.

The repeal, which was largely praised by media owners and practitioners, de-criminalizes libel, and gives citizens the option to use civil means to check the practice of journalism in Ghana.

Many have said that, the repeal of the law, despite a positive stride, has resulted in irresponsible reportage and inappropriate content across some media platforms in the country.

But addressing the press in July, President Akufo-Addo said he did not regret his role in repealing the Criminal Libel Law even though he is one of those who has suffered the most from insults.

“I know there are some who take issue with the media on several fronts and even go as far as criticizing me for my part in the repeal of the criminal libel law because it has made the media too free. Even though I have been one of the greatest victims of the irresponsible section of the media… those who have created an industry from spewing falsehood and outright fabrication against my person, I don’t regret my role in the repeal of the old discredited law,” he said.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Akufo-Addo will not press charges against Appiah Stadium – Hamid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the president will be “extremely unhappy” over the development.

[contextly_sidebar id=”58EgILt2Dfh2r2t0LHmW8wlw7sze4aMN”]The Police in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday afternoon arrested the known serial caller in handcuff, for circulating an audio in which he accused the President Akufo-Addo of using a banned substance.

He is currently being transported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Accra for further interrogation.

But Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, who is a cousin of the President, and a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in a Facebook post on the matter, said the arrest went against “all that he [President Akufo-Addo] stands for”.

“These things shouldn’t happen. I can see the president being extremely unhappy about any citizen being arrested for allegedly insulting him. It goes against all that he stands for. I may not be privy to the details, but I know whatever the justification the President will not like this one bit,” he said.

He added that, “He [Appiah Stadium] could have been invited without the handcuffs. Very unnecessary; uncool.”

Nana Akufo-Addo, who served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice under the John Kufuor government in 2001, led the government to ensure the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law that saw government controlling private media.

The repeal, which was largely praised by media owners and practitioners, de-criminalizes libel, and gives citizens the option to use civil means to check the practice of journalism in Ghana.

Many have said that, the repeal of the law, despite a positive stride, has resulted in irresponsible reportage and inappropriate content across some media platforms in the country.

But addressing the press in July, President Akufo-Addo said he did not regret his role in repealing the Criminal Libel Law even though he is one of those who has suffered the most from insults.

“I know there are some who take issue with the media on several fronts and even go as far as criticizing me for my part in the repeal of the criminal libel law because it has made the media too free. Even though I have been one of the greatest victims of the irresponsible section of the media… those who have created an industry from spewing falsehood and outright fabrication against my person, I don’t regret my role in the repeal of the old discredited law,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, ACP David Eklu, has told Citi Eyewitness News that their actions is grounded in law, and that they expect Appiah Stadium to give clarification on his claims against the President.

He said they had monitored the audio and the comments on social media, and that they did not need the approval of the Presidency to cause the arrest.

–
By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post President will be unhappy over Appiah Stadium’s arrest – Gabby appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“We demand the immediate release of Appiah Stadium from police custody now in the interest of the stability of the State,” a statement by the party’s Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer, Yaw Brogya Genfi said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”JGJ0lN9AUN6eRkB1bI8gpoqY4sasnd1G”]He also gave government a 24-hour ultimatum to release Appiah Stadium or face their wrath.

“The release of Appiah Stadium from police custody is non-negotiable, as such we give the Akufo-Addo government 24 hours to produce him or we take every means possible to get Appiah out,” he added.

Appiah Stadium was arrested for suggesting in a recent audio that went viral, that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo smokes marijuana [wee].

The Police in the Ashanti Region however arrested him on Tuesday following orders from the National Headquarters in Accra.

The Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Juliana Obeng, also told Citi News that “We got instruction from the national headquarters to help them with the arrest of Appiah Stadium and that is exactly what we have done.”

“As I speak to you, Appiah Stadium is on his way to the national CID headquarters. When we arrested him, immediately we put him in a car off to Accra,” she added.

Appiah Stadium apologizes 

Meanwhile, Appiah Stadium has reportedly apologized for his comment, admitting that it was inappropriate and false, and that he had no evidence to prove it.

Below is the full statement from the NDC:

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS
YOUTH WING
ASHANTI REGION

September 26, 2017

For Immediate Release

FREE APPIAH STADIUM NOW!!!

1. We demand the immediate release of Appiah Stadium from police custody now in the interest of the stability of the State.

2. The Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer has confirmed the arrest of Appiah Stadium without a cause.

3. According to the Police, they were directed from “ABOVE” to arrest Appiah and send him to Accra.

4. His arrest has no basis in law and we find it as an attempt to suppress FREE SPEECH.

5. We have witnessed criminal attacks on the Courts and Security Appointees in Ashanti Region where the Security of the State allows these miscreants to walk freely from Justice.

6. We have witnessed lawlessness to the hilt in the Ashanti Region exposing the weakness of our Security Agencies in the face of political power.

7. If President Akufo-Addo wants to re-criminalize FREE SPEECH, he can sponsor a legislation on it to Parliament – until that is done, we will not allow any citizen to suffer for Speaking his mind in this country.

8. The NDC YOUTH in Ashanti Region demands the release of Appiah Stadium Now.

9. The release of Appiah Stadium from police custody is non-negotiable as such we give the Akufo-Addo government 24 hours to produce him or we take every means possible to get Appiah out!

Thank you.

Signed

Yaw Brogya Genfi
(ASHANTI REGIONAL YOUTH ORGANIZER)

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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According to reports,  he was arrested for suggesting in a recent audio that went viral, that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo smokes marijuana [wee].

A source at the Ashanti Regional command confirmed the arrest to Citi News.

The source also added that Appiah Stadium is being transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Accra for further interrogation.

Meanwhile, Appiah Stadium has since apologized for the comment, admitting that it was inappropriate and false, and that he had no evidence to prove it.

The Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Juliana Obeng also told Citi News that Appiah Stadium was arrested on Tuesday following orders from their National Headquarters in Accra.

“We got instruction from the national headquarters to help them with the arrest of Appiah Stadium and that is exactly what we have done. As I speak to you, Appiah Stadium is on his way to the national CID headquarters. When we arrested him, immediately we put him in a car off to Accra,” she added.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NDC serial caller Appiah Stadium arrested for ‘defaming’ Nana Addo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.