According to the Center, the GH¢1,800 per head fine imposed as sentence on each of the accused persons, was a ‘slap-on-the-wrist’ and may go to encourage many political hooligans to perpetuate crime in the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”w3IbtgCyj55m2oaBLM5pTSP3b3vIincs”]CDD-Ghana said although the court processes were in accordance with the rule of law, the judgment was lenient.

While describing the sentence as a “setback in efforts to promote decency in politics,” it bemoaned the “failure of institutions in the criminal justice system to professionally discharge their constitutional duty in order to preserve the integrity of the state and uphold the standards of what is right and wrong in our society.”

“The outcome of the verdict can only foster impunity, undermine the rule of law and reinforce a dangerously negative political culture. This development has dealt another devastating blow to the keen desire of many Ghanaians for justice and the rule of law,” the statement said.

The 13 Delta Force members faced charges of conspiracy to assault, for raiding the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and assaulting the Regional Security Coordinator because they were against his appointment.

They were earlier freed by some members of the vigilante group in open court, after the presiding judge remanded the 13 into police custody.

The eight of those who caused the confusion at the court were arrested, while the 13 fugitives subsequently turned themselves into the police.

Eight Delta Force members were accused of aiding the escape, and the 13 escapees were charged and fined.

But the charges against the court raiders, were eventually dropped under controversial circumstances by the State for lack of evidence.

The Attorney-General’s Department at the time said it had not sanctioned the state prosecutor in Kumasi to drop the case involving the eight who raided the court.

This angered many Ghanaians who felt the eight persons had been let off the hook after a brazen attack on the Judiciary for political reasons.

Read the full statement below:

CDD-Ghana Statement on the Delta Force Verdict

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is deeply disappointed with the conclusion to the seven-month long case involving the thirteen members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)-affiliated political vigilante group, the Delta Force.

On Thursday, October 19 2017, the Asokwa Circuit Court in Kumasi in the Ashanti region imposed a fine of GH¢ 1,800 on each of the accused, or in default, serve a 12-month jail term, after they pleaded guilty to a substituted misdemeanor charge of “Conspiracy to Commit a Crime by Rioting”.

Ghanaians will recall that in March of this year, members of the Delta Force, displeased with the appointment of the Ashanti Region Security Coordinator, Mr. George Adjei, forcibly entered his office and physically assaulted him. A video of the incident was widely circulated on social media.

The police arrested twenty suspects and arraigned them before the Kumasi Circuit Court but only thirteen showed up. In addition, the President, Inspector General of Police and Interior Minister assured Ghanaians that such impunity and lawlessness would not be allowed under their watch.

The case against the suspects was aggravated by the brazen show of wanton disregard for law and order on the day of their Court appearance when members of the Delta Forces stormed the Court, verbally assaulted the presiding Judge and forcibly freed the suspects – in the full glare of state security officials.

Subsequently, only token fines were awarded against the freed suspects; another eight suspects who were involved in the violence at the Court were discharged for lack of evidence. While CDD-Ghana acknowledges that the process leading to the verdict followed the rule of law, it is also saddened by the leniency of the judgment.

Considering that activities of political party vigilante groups are still rife, this verdict represents a setback in efforts to promote decency in politics. What is more disturbing with this case is continuous failure of institutions in the criminal justice system to professionally discharge their constitutional duty in order to preserve the integrity of the state and uphold the standards of what is right and wrong in our society.

For instance, with all the intelligence they possessed, the security agencies could have averted the invasion by providing necessary protection for the Coordinator. Similarly, if the security agencies had learned from the first incident, and provided the necessary security at the courthouse, knowing the group in question the gross interference with the cause of justice could have been avoided.

The bungling of such a high profile case by institutions in the criminal justice system can only further undermine trust of the justice system and violates the fundamental rights of Ghanaians that everyone is equal before the law.

The verdict in the case of the ‘Delta Thirteen’ may be pleasing to NPP-affiliated organs and their supporters. However, the outcome of the verdict can only foster impunity, undermine the rule of law and reinforce a dangerously negative political culture. This development has dealt another devastating blow to the keen desire of many Ghanaians for justice and the rule of law.

The ‘slap-on-the-wrist’ punishment given to a group of ruling party-affiliated criminal suspects only reinforces the unfortunate impression that incumbent party members and affiliates who break the law can count on the protection of the powers that be, and would not face the full rigors of the law.

Indeed, it is also a major victory for a baneful phenomenon in Ghanaian politics: political vigilantism and hooliganism – which the Center and other civil society actors have flagged as posing a mortal danger to democratic politics and national peace.

Finally, CDD-Ghana hopes that all stakeholders interested in improving and sustaining democratic governance in Ghana heed the call to action to find a lasting solution to the problem of political vigilantism. And that the institutions of the criminal justice system will act to honor the letter and spirit of the Constitution, and as well serve a notice of deterrence should similar incidents occur in the future.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This year’s event, the fifth in the series, seeks to take the event a notch higher as it brings the crème de la crème of Africa’s movie stars to celebrate with their Ghanaian counterparts.

 The organizers, the Ghana Movie Award Foundation, has officially called for entries to be submitted for consideration.

“We wish to inform all movie producers who are interested in participating in the upcoming 4th Ghana Movie Awards that the official submission for movies starts on September 3rd, 2014.” – Quame Junior, Head of Productions of the awards, said.

Movie producers are to get in touch with this number: +233504891010 or [email protected].

The awards scheme commenced in 2010 and aimed at promoting excellence in the Ghana movie industry as well as in the African region.

This year’s event is in collaboration with the Seyi Emmanuel Adebayor (SEA) Foundation.

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By: Kojo Akotot Boateng/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Jackie Appiah, Jon Dumelo, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, reportedly slept on bare floor at the airport because there was no flight to take them back to Natal.

Members of the World Cup committee responsible for their care could not be traced. Due to this mishap, the soccer fans had to sleep on empty stomachs at the airport after the Ghana-Germany game until the next day.

The Ghana fans slept like refugees at the busy airport in the full glare of other nationals. There were threats to deal ruthlessly with the committee respon­sible for their appalling situation when they touch down at their home base in Natal. The fans made deafening noise to display their anger until they were flown back to their Natal base on Sunday morning.

Attacks

It took the intervention of some stoutly built men, who prevented the charged fans from manhandling the com­mittee members at the Mardunas Hotel. They have had enough of the poor treatment since their arrival in Brazil for the World Cup, the fans complained.

At the Mardunas Hotel on Sunday morn­ing, they held placards with inscriptions that they wanted to return to Ghana. Some of the fans, wearing red bands, pas­sionately appealed to President Mahama to fly them back home to save them from hard­ship.

Stranded

While some fans were angry because of the difficulties in moving from the Natal airport to their home base in Mardunas Hotel, several others were also stranded at the Natal airport Saturday afternoon hoping to travel to  Forteleza to watch the Ghana-Germany game.

These fans were loaded in buses from the Mardunas Hotel to the airport with a promise of being flown to watch the match.They however had the shock of their lives when they were left at the airport since there was limited space in the aircraft. Music star Becca was said to be among the unfortunate fans who could not get a flight and was stranded at the airport.

After creating chaotic scenes at the busy airport, Brazilian authorities chattered buses to send them back to the Ghana village where they watched the game in their rooms.

Source:  Daily Guide

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