The families of five youth activists of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tamale, who were jailed in 2013 for murder and other offences, have welcomed news of their release from prison.
The ruling for their release was delivered on Wednesday October 21, by the Court of Appeal in Kumasi.
Yahuza Yakubu, Majeed Alhassan, Habib Mohammed Dagbana, Shaibu Alhassan and Moro Gundaana were jailed over the murder of Alhassan Rashid, an NDC youth activist.
For security reasons, the men were shuttled between the Tamale and Navrongo Prisons between 2009 and 2013, before they were finally jailed by a Tamale High Court.
In an earlier ruling, a seven member jury presided over by Justice Lawrence Mensah ruled that one of the men, Yahuza Yakubu, was to be hanged to death.
He was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder. The rest, Majeed Alhassan, Alhassan Sayibu, Habib Mohammed Dagbana and Imoro Gundaana were to serve 36 years in prison for conspiracy to murder.
Their arrest according to the NPP, was politically motivated.
The Concerned Elephants Youth Association and several other NPP groups organized series of news conferences in protest.
Lawyer Nana Obiri Boahen, who is now a Deputy General Secretary of the NPP, and Lawyer Shaibu Alhassan, filed an appeal to overturn the case which was transferred to Kumasi.
They were arrested on 17th January 2009 following a political clash between NPP and NDC youth in Tamale in the Northern Region.
The clash led to the burning of several houses, vehicles and motorbikes including state properties.
Gumbihini, Choggu and other surrounding communities in the Tamale metropolis were the worst affected areas in the clash.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/.Citifmonline.com/Ghana