GHOne TV presenter Lantam Papanko was allegedly assaulted by security personnel of the National Chief Imam on the Ofankor-Amasaman road on October 22, 2023.
GHOne TV’s morning current affairs co-host was driving in the inner lane on the Ofankor-Tantra stretch when he realized a motorcyclist was riding at high speed behind him, attempting to overtake him.
A heated argument allegedly ensued when Papanko attempted to question the motorcyclist about his reckless riding. The motorcyclist became offended and accused Papanko of obstructing his way.
Lantam Papanko narrated that the angry motorcyclist smashed his vehicle and then hit his side mirror, after verbally assaulting him.
“I was driving from the Ofankor roundabout headed towards Tantra roundabout, mile 7. And I was driving in the inner lane. So while I was moving, I saw a motorcyclist coming from behind me. I noticed the motorcycle moving fast to right to the driver’s side, behind me, and was trying to overtake me. I was wondering what the problem was. And he started signalling to me that I should move off the road.
He added, “So I also signalled to him what was the problem? Why he was signalling me to move off the road?
Then he moved off from that side and then came to the other side, the passenger side on the right side. And he started insulting me. He asked me why I didn’t want to move off the road. I realized a black SUV bearing the number plate ‘Imam’ with flashing red and blue lights had been following me. Struggling to comprehend the unfolding scene, I witnessed the motorcyclist pulling up beside me and verbally assaulting me. The aggressive exchange didn’t end there. In a fit of rage, the motorcyclist struck my vehicle with his hands and then violently hit my side mirror, causing it to turn.”
He said he was forced to stop after the vehicle supposedly belonging to the National Chief Imam abruptly stopped in front of his car.
According to him, the motorcyclist verbally assaulted him adding that three people also got out of the vehicle, joined in the assault, and started slapping and pushing him. Papanko said he was overpowered by his abusers, who vandalized his car in the process.
After injuring him, he said the thugs got into their vehicle and fled the scene.
“He confronted me with accusations of disrespect and used his helmet to strike me through the car window. So the guy rode off and then I saw the chief Imam’s car pass. I picked up my normal speed again. Then I realized that ahead of me, the chief Imam’s car came to an abrupt stop right in front of me. I had to come to a screeching halt. The rider pulled up beside me again. He got down from the vehicle, took off his helmet and started saying, don’t I respect? What is the meaning of what I was doing? And he used his helmet through the window to hit me in my face.
And I saw about three people get down from the chief Imam’s vehicle. They came and stood by my side where I was directly sitting, while in the car. And they started slapping and hitting me on my head and face and asking me, don’t I know that is the chief Imam that is coming? Don’t I respect? The old man is sitting in the car. Instead of getting out of the way, I’m still sitting in the car and I do want to move. What is wrong with me? Why am I behaving like that?
“The guy used his helmet to hit me through the window like four times. And the other guys were slapping me and hitting me. I tried to protect myself with my hands. One of them eventually struck me in the forehead.” he added.
He said he rushed to the Achimota Hospital for treatment and then lodged a complaint at the Mile 7 Police Station.
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