Police arrest Mills' bodyguards

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Two bodyguards of former Vice President John Evans Atta Mills were today arrested and detained by the police in Cape Coast following a misunderstanding with President Kufuor's security detail.

The arrested men who have since been released, were held at the Cape Coast Metropolitan Police Station.

President Kufuor and Prof Mills were part of a large number of dignitaries who joined the people of the Oguaa to climax their annual Oguaa Fetu Afahye festival.

Other dignitaries at the function included the Speaker of Parliament, Hon Begyina Sekyi Hughes, Convention People's Party presidential candidate, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom and New Patriotic Party running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

An eyewitness told Joy FM that when Prof Mills, presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress for the December election, arrived at a durbar of the chiefs and people of the area to exchange felicitations with the traditional chiefs, and proceeded to greet President Kufuor, who was already seated.

President Kufuor's security men asked Mills' body guards who tailed him, to stay behind a certain radius, following which the scuffle ensued after Mills' men insisted it was their duty to go where their 'boss' went.

According to the eyewitness, the misunderstanding led to the arrest by police officers at the function. The arrest became an instant subject for discussion by the gathering, and according to Joy News Correspondent Richard Kojo Nyarko, opinions were divided over who was wrong from right.

The two men were later released from police custody following interventions by the Mills campaign team.

Communications Director of the Mills campaign team, Koku Anyidoho, told Joy News they would not pursue the matter any further but thought it a useful lesson.

“To be forewarned is to be forearmed”, he said.