Veteran entertainment pundit Arnold Asamoah Baidoo has given a detailed account of events that led to his arrest and overnight detention alongside musician manager Lawrence Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bulldog, during the height of the MenzGold crisis.
Speaking on the YouTube show Gentlemen and Gentlemen, Baidoo explained that actions taken by the management of Zylophone Media to safeguard company assets were later misconstrued as theft by authorities.
According to Baidoo, the collapse of MenzGold created a volatile environment at Zylophone Media, with angry customers and alleged looters storming the company’s offices.
“At that time, NAM1 was nowhere to be found, workers were not being paid, including security, so we had no protection,” he said.
Baidoo, who served as Communications Manager of Zylophone Media at the time, revealed that management took a collective decision to move valuable items from individual artiste offices to a more secure location.
“The agreement was that since we had no security, we should take essential items like air conditioners, televisions and fridges to the main office across the street, where there was protection,” he explained.
However, Baidoo said the situation took a dramatic turn when the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) later issued a directive for all Zylophone Media properties to be surrendered.
According to him, the earlier movement of items was wrongly interpreted as an attempt to steal company property.
“We were not stealing anything. We were custodians of the label and were protecting the property,” he stressed.
Baidoo disclosed that he and Bulldog were subsequently arrested by a joint team of EOCO officials and police officers and detained overnight.
“We were ordered to remove our clothes and put into separate cells. We spent the night there,” he recounted.
He added that the following day, both men were handcuffed and transported to EOCO headquarters, where they were interrogated by senior officials.
“The EOCO CEO directly accused us of stealing air conditioners. I had to calmly explain the entire situation and that we were actually protecting the assets,” Baidoo said.
After providing clarification, Baidoo noted that both he and Bulldog were released without any charges.
