Police investigates death threats on Jerry Asare

Correspondent: Jerome Otchere, Oseikrom

25th August 2007

The Police in Accra have launched serious investigations to ascertain the person or group of people who called Kotoko’s Operations Director Jerry Asare to threatening to kill him. The Operations Director had the shock of his life last Friday night when an unidentified person called one of his mobile phone lines and threatened to kill him.

Reasons behind those threats according to the Kpeshie Divisional Police in Accra are yet to be known. “I was just about sleeping when I heard my phone ringing. I picked the call only to hear the caller insulting me and saying, ‘Your days are numbered. You will soon be missing. Stupid man’. I thanked him and then went to bed” Jerry Asare said.

He disclosed that he did not tell anybody until he reported the matter at the Kpeshie Divisional Police in Accra the next day. Though no names were mentioned the Operations Director said he could identify the voice of the caller. He said after making the report the police in Accra directed him not make any detail comment on the issue.

“I reported the matter to the police and they asked me not say anything since what I say could hamper the progress of their investigations” he told the Kotoko Express in an interview on Monday. Exercising a great care in what his comments, the Operations Director hinted that he would continue to do what is expected of him as a management member of Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

He revealed that would not be cowed or intimidated by anybody. “Of course my life is dear to me. I care about my life. However this threat won’t restraint me from working as the Operations Director of the club. Otumfuo has given me and my other colleagues a duty to perform and I will do my best not disappoint”.

Asked who he thought could put his life in danger by issuing those threats the Operations Director said he could not tell but insisted that they could be Kotoko loyalists who are apparently unhappy with his brazen and uncompromising approach to issues related to the club. Answering questions as to whether his life was not in danger, Jerry Asare said:

“The movements of my family have been restricted and security at home has also been intensified. That notwithstanding, I think everything is right”. The Kotoko Express can confirm that the Operations Director was called by the Kpeshie Police on Monday evening but the paper was not privy to discussions the two parties had.

Supporters of the club who have been commenting on the matter since Monday have expressed utter surprise and dismay, condemning whoever might be behind those veil threats. “I wonder what is happening at all. Kotoko needs peace. This something we must not entertain or take lightly. We must condemn the perpetrators and expect the police to bring them to book” an angry caller to the paper’s office said on Monday morning.