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‘I’ve Been Traumatized But God Is With Me’ – Odike Speaks After Office Was Attacked

The founder and head of UFP, Akwasi Addai, has admitted that the looting and vandalism of his office by some unidentified individuals on August 22 in the Ashanti Region has traumatized him.

Odike, as he is more commonly called, found comfort in God’s presence since he thinks things would have turned out worse if the vandals had confronted him at his office.

In a television interview, he described how the incident occurred, saying that the assailants entered his office in search of him and that “when they got out, I went into good hiding.” They returned, were unable to locate me, destroyed these vehicles, and then fled.

When asked if the actions of his attackers frightened him and whether he regrets accusing the chiefs of Kumasi for indulging in galamsey, he said he was not going to apologise, but said of his state of mind: “Physically yes. I am traumatised. But God is with me.

“People who are after my life, how can I apologise to them? They want to kill me so why should I go on my knees and beg them? That portion is past and gone. No reconciliation. The battle lines have been drawn. I have to take good care of myself and see how the Police will assist me in terms of security.”

Background

Odike in a recent interview on Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM criticised chiefs within the Asante Kingdom for failing to help end illegal mining activities in the region.

He was also accused of threatening to incite the youth to rise against the chiefs if they fail to play their roles in curbing the illegal mining menace.
His comments were, however, described as distasteful and disrespectful by members of the Kumasi Traditional Council.

Narrating what transpired to Accra-based Citi FM, the businessman turned politician said;

“The genesis of the whole issue started on 17th August. I was invited to a panel discussion on Oyerepa FM and TV and the topic was galamsey menace and its devastating effect on society. When it got to my turn, I pointed accusing fingers at our chiefs that they have been reluctant to help us fight galamsey. I went further to say that, I suspect that they were behind galamsey and that’s why we are unable to fight the menace.

“This message didn’t go down well with our chiefs. They organised themselves in the palace and slaughtered a sheep to banish me from the palace. As if that was not enough, they reported me to the police. I went there to write my version of the whole thing. Then they told my chief to banish me from my hometown and freeze my assets there. So this morning [after the ransacking of my office] I went back to the police station to report it.”

 

 

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