An altercation reportedly broke out Thursday morning when Kofi Asamoah, the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Asante Akyem North, confronted Agogo-based Salt 95.9 FM, demanding an apology and retraction over claims that he had received financial support from the incumbent NPP MP to fund his campaign.
The incident occurred during the live broadcast of the popular morning show Anopa Busuo, hosted by Samuel Acheampong, also known as “Tugah.”
According to Salt FM, the altercation caused considerable distress among staff and raised concerns about the safety of media workers ahead of the upcoming election.
The station’s manager on duty, Mr. Ishaq, recounted the events, stating that Asamoah, accompanied by a group of individuals allegedly carrying weapons, attempted to force his way into the studio during the live broadcast.
Security personnel on-site quickly intervened, preventing the group from entering and averting what could have been a much more dangerous situation.
Mr. Ishaq emphasized that had the security team not acted swiftly, the confrontation could have escalated, putting both the lives of staff and valuable studio equipment at risk.
The incident stemmed from a discussion earlier in the morning on Anopa Busuo, where Tugah mentioned rumors circulating in the public domain.
The rumors alleged that Kofi Asamoah had received financial backing of GHC500,000 from the incumbent NPP MP to counter the growing influence of independent candidate Ohene Kwame Frimpong (popularly known as “O.K. Frimpong”), who has emerged as a serious challenger in the parliamentary race.
Instead of addressing the allegations through proper channels, Salt FM reports that Asamoah used offensive language when calling into the show and demanded a retraction.
Shortly afterward, he allegedly arrived at the station with a group of individuals, some of whom were reportedly carrying weapons. During this confrontation, an eyewitness claimed to have seen Asamoah wielding a gun.
Several Salt FM staff members were physically injured in the process, and they have since reported the incident to the local police in Asante Akyem North.
Salt FM management has expressed deep concern over the incident, emphasizing the vital role of the media in facilitating transparent public discourse.
They urged political candidates to engage responsibly with the press, particularly in a politically charged environment ahead of elections.
An altercation reportedly broke out Thursday morning when the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Asante Akim North, Kofi Asamoah, confronted Agogo-based Salt FM, demanding an apology and retraction over claims that he had received financial and other support from the incumbent NPP… pic.twitter.com/ldV1NW05fT
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) November 7, 2024
