The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Nhyiaeso Constituency in Ashanti, Kennedy Kankam, escaped an assassination attempt when three unidentified gunmen allegedly raided his Nhyiaeso residence.
Mr Kankam was said to be in the house with his family when the incident took place at about 1:00am on Sunday.
The gunmen allegedly sneaked into his bedroom ostensibly to kill him, but his life was spared later, following negotiations with them.
They were said to have used a cutter to gain access to the house and then into the bedroom of the MP.
A close source told the Ghanaian Times, disclosed that it took the gunmen almost three hours to negotiate with Mr Kankam and his family before they spared his life.
“The gunmen in the process took away unspecified amount of money in pounds sterling, US dollars, Ghana cedis, laptop, television set and mobile handsets. They later requested for and made away with his V8 car,” the source indicated.
The source believed that it was a well-planned plot to eliminate him, claiming that the gunmen tied the lawmaker with a rope before escaping.
“Look, it became an argument between the three gunmen whether to spare his life or kill him after taking whatever they wanted from him and his family including their mobile handsets.”
“After leaving the house, the ring leader came back to warn Mr Kankam to be careful since those who contracted them (gunmen) to kill him, were still at his back, warning, ‘we were to kill you but we have spared your life, they will still follow you so be careful’.”
The V8 vehicle, according to the Head of the Ashanti Regional Police Public Affairs Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Godwin Ahianyo, was found at Edwinase near Kwadaso.
ASP Ahianyo indicated that the Police had mounted an intensive search for the gunmen and appealed to the public for any information that could lead to their arrest.
This is not the first time a politician has been attacked by gunmen in the country.
Barely a week ago, the treasurer for the NPP for Takoradi Constituency, Mr Mark Ofori, was also shot dead in his own house.
It is recalled that on February 9, 2016, the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, J.B. Danquah, was stabbed to death in his house.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
