Why I fought Aliu’s man - Kofi Adda

Former Energy Minister, Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda says he intends to arm himself and beef up his personal security, seeing that his life is under threat.

The measure follows an exchange of blows between him and an aide to Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Saturday at a rally organised for New Patriotic Party vice presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

The two men threw punches at each other on the official dais on which the Vice President sat, along with several other party leaders and in front or teeming party supporters.

Kofi Adda, MP for Navrongo Central who told Joy News' Sammy Darko his account of the brawl, said he was first attacked by the aide, Adams, which led to the exchange of blows.

He explained that he had gone to address the rally after which the Vice President asked him why he was fighting everybody in the party, to which he replied that he (Adda) was not fighting anyone but it was his opponents who were fighting him and that he was sure to win the election and so had no fear for their machinations or time to fight anybody.

He said Aliu repeated the claim, and he Adda also maintained his stance and proceeded to walk away.

“I had gone out to speak at the platform at a Bolga rally to meet the running mate of the NPP and as I came down I greeted the dignitaries and went back to stand where I was. But as I was going there was an exchange between us and the Vice President. When I got there and was standing, I had this hoodlum porter of Aliu approach me and start questioning the way I spoke to the Vice and he proceeded to physically assault me, and as it started there was throwing of fists and the security agents came in to restrain us.

“Now the point is that if I had said anything disrespectful or insulting to the Vice President or anything that threatened the security, the aide-de-camp of the Vice President is standing there, a detachment of the Vice President's security unit was around the area and didn't find it necessary to pounce on me, to handcuff me, to arrest me, you have this hooldlum called …come out from behind to attack me.”

Kofi Adda said he had reported the case to the police and issued with a medical form and also been examined by a doctor, explaining that those fighting him are people jealous of his performance and the unprecedented level of development he has brought to the constituency and who want his seat.

Meanwhile the National Campaign Director of the NPP, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku has denounced the altercation as an unfortunate event and called on the security agencies to thoroughly investigate it and ensure due process is followed.

Now the point is that if I had said anything disrespectful or insulting to the Vice President or anything that threatened the security, the aide-de-camp of the Vice President is standing there, a detachment of the Vice President's security unit was around the area and didn't find it necessary to pounce on me, to handcuff me, to arrest me, you have this hooldlum called …come out from behind to attack me.

Kofi Adda, Former Energy Minister and MP for Navrongo

He told Joy News; “We hope that due process would be followed in resolving the issue. It's before the police and what the police investigation will ascertain will determine what cause of action would be taken and all we are saying is that we hope that due process, decisions be made according to rule of law.” Click here to listen to Dr. Apraku.

Story by Isaac Yeboah