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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A representative for the prosecutor in the case, C/Inspt, Hannah Acheampong, pleaded with the court presided over by Her Honor Mary Nsenkyire for an adjournment because the prosecutor, ACP Okyere Darko, was on leave.

The court at a previous hearing had adjourned the case to today, July 13 because the Attorney General advised that they conduct further investigations into the case.

Background

[contextly_sidebar id=”mezauB65CcFnJ86yCbPBInDS1J4nsFRz”]The 13 were arrested after they stormed the office of the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator and allegedly assaulted him in the process.

They subsequently escaped from a Kumasi Circuit Court’s custody after some of their members sparked confusion when they were arraigned and charged with conspiracy to assault a public officer and causing unlawful damage.

The 13 suspects have already been fined GHc 2,400 each, and have been made to sign a bond of good behaviour for escaping lawful custody.

Meanwhile, the fellow group members who aided their escape from court custody had the case against them controversially dropped.

Initial reports indicated that, the Attorney General directed that the case be dropped with a Principal State Attorney, ACP Okyere Darko, saying that Gloria Akuffo had instructed the Police to stop pursuing the matter because they had insufficient evidence against the accused persons.

But the government denied that it sanctioned a decision to drop the charges.

The Ministry of Information in a statement said that the Principal State Attorney in the case did not consult the Attorney General before dropping the charges against the accused.

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By: Lauretta Timah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 13 Delta Force members’ case adjourned again appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is largely due to lack of furniture in such schools located in deprived communities.

This situation is contributing to the falling standard of education in the Northern Region.

There are situations where one teacher handles three or more classrooms a day.

One of such is Gnani primary school in the Yendi district which lacks classroom furniture.

With the exception of primary five and six, pupils in primary one to four are compelled to sit on the bare floor and study.

This is not only retarding academic progress but affecting the children’s health during rainy season.

Some of the distressed pupils of class three called for government’s immediate intervention.

The class teacher, Issac Defia said the situation had adverse effects on the pupil’s academic performance.

Defia Issac added his voice to calls on government to immediately address their numerous challenges.

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Pupils studying on bare floors in some Northern schools appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.