Presidential Spokesperson Mr. Mahama Ayariga has dismissed claims that the seizure and subsequent search of the vehicle of the NPP running mate in the 2008 elections amounted to political harassment.Dr. Mamamudu Bawumia was on Friday held by the military at the Tamale Airport for an hour on suspicion that his car carried weapons.The car was taken away from him for searching and later returned to him.Mahama Ayariga told Joy News’ Evans Mensah, he was yet to be briefed properly on the event but his information indicated that the search yielded an AK47 assault rifle concealed in the vehicle.He maintained he was yet to confirm his information.But an aide to the Vice presidential candidate explained the weapon, duly registered, belonged to a police bodyguard assigned to Bawumia by the Bank of Ghana and who was part of the team that was stopped by the military.The presidential spokesperson maintained the security personnel on seeing the weapon had to be convinced there were no other such weapons in the vehicle, necessitating the brief seizure of the vehicle.He could not however tell if Bawumia was taken along to the venue where the vehicle was thoroughly searched.Ayariga maintained the law enforcement agencies must be allowed to do their job and cautioned against the politicisation of their responsibilities.He described as unfortunate and inflammatory a statement issued by the General Secretary of the NPP in reaction to seizure and search of the vehicle.The NPP statement warned of dire consequences if the consistent harassment of people perceived to be political opponents was not halted.But Mahama implored the NPP to refrain from making such statements which he said could trigger tension in an already volatile area. Listen to excerpts of the interview with Ayariga in the attached audio.Story by Nathan Gadugah

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Tags:  

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Related to this story

• T-bills: Government record 20% undersubscription; interest rates continue to rise

---

• Ghanaian medicinal plant shows potential to starve prostate tumours by blocking blood vessel growth

---

• Emirates expands operations in Ghana with additional weekly flights

---

• Tributes paid to ‘popular’ teenager killed in Donegal rally crash

---

• Marigold Foundation distributes sanitary pads to 1,500 girls in Agona East

---

• Two dead after building collapse at Gyagyaano in Cape Coast

---

• Six arrested over Kwabenya shooting incident involving Adwoa Safo

---

• Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena I installed as new leader of Kristo Asafo Mission

---

• Kristo Asafo Church refutes claims Adwoa Safo was shot by brother

---

• Four dead, two critical after Metro Mass bus plunges into ditch on Peki stretch

---