Media personality Bridget Otoo has empathised with socialite Bongo Ideas over the recent ordeals he has been through due to comments against those in authority.
According to Bridget Otoo, although she may not agree with the actions of Bongo Ideas, being tormented by the government for an opposing view is not the way to go.
She expressed her sympathy while sharing how she handles criticism over her comments against the government that have to do with the running of the economy.
“I am so sorry for what he has been through. The government has dealt with him. I am so sorry that had to happen to him. Though I don’t agree with what he says or things he has said about me, I don’t wish that he would be tortured by the government for simply expressing a view,” she said while on an interview on the KSM show.
On attempts to silence Bridget, she said “the mistake was trying to gag me, it made me more powerful.”
Bongo Ideas has raised concerns about his safety in Ghana following a recent incident involving individuals impersonating police officers.
In an interview on the Onua Maakye show with Captain Smart, the activist shared that his forceful arrest and mistreatment have left him feeling unsafe in Ghana.
Feeling vulnerable, he has sought assistance from organizations such as ECOWAS and the African Union.
The details of the alleged arrest of Albert Nat Hyde, also known as Bongo Ideas, which is said to have happened in two folds emerged.
Reports indicate that Bongo Ideas had been detained by security agencies. Barker-Vormawor, convener of Fix The Country, suggested that his arrest was linked to recent information released by Bongo Ideas regarding President Akufo-Addo and First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo.
According to Barker-Vormawor, Bongo Ideas’ family searched various police stations in Accra but could not locate him.
Subsequent reports indicated that Bongo Ideas had returned home. On March 16, Barker-Vormawor disclosed that Bongo Ideas had been arrested for the second time.
In a Facebook post, he outlined the alleged circumstances of the police’s apprehension of the controversial socialite.
According to him, over 10 individuals in two vehicles and motorbikes who claimed to have been sent by IGP came to pick up Bongo Ideas.
He said the family insisted they wouldn’t let him be taken again without them.
“The Police eventually agreed for the family to join, only to drop them off at around the Tesano Police Station; seized their phones and told them to go and make a report at the Tesano Police station,” Mr Vormawor recounted.
He then went the Police Headquarters with Bongo Ideas’ family.
“The police insist they didn’t bring them there. They went to Cantonment Police Station to lodge a complaint about his abduction. The Police refused to take the complaint.”
In a subsequent post, Vormawor noted that “his Family got the call that he was being driven home at around midnight. At that time, the family were on their way to National Security after visiting the Cantonment Police Station; National Police Headquarters and the Regional Police Headquarters.”
Also, a blogger who says he is in close contact with a source who is friends with the family shared the alleged harrowing experience. He corroborated the claim that Bongo was arrested on Friday but released on Saturday, and subsequently arrested again on Saturday night.
But the Ghana Police Service and Ministry of National Security have denied claims of arresting socialite, Albert Nat Hyde also known as Bongo Ideas. After its attention was drawn to the issue, the Police say they have “contacted a relative who has confirmed that Bongo Ideas is at home”.
In response, Mr Vormawor said the Police claim now to be investigating the circumstances under which unidentified individuals, presenting themselves as acting under the color of law enforcement, came to break in and pick up Albert the first time in the presence of his family.
According to him, Albert had already filed a “formal police complaint about the events of the previous night; and the Police were aware of his complaint well before they released their statement yesterday, claiming that he was home and had not been arrested by them.”
It is believed that Bongo Ideas is currently home.
“While I have received an account from the Family and Albert himself of exactly what happened to him, I will refrain from discussing it publicly as it is a matter of live police investigation. There are a lot of things that need unraveling; and I am sure Albert himself will addresss what happened to him. My understanding however is that, at this time, his devices were confiscated from him, (phones and computer) and he has no access to his social media accounts.
“I do hope that the Police are able to get to the bottom of this; and that Albert’s account of what happened to him are thoroughly investigated,” he added.