Speaking at the Chief Justice’s forum in Kumasi on Monday, the Asantehene referenced the GHc 1,800 fine imposed on members of 13 of the Delta Force members who assaulted the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator after raiding his office.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3df8JZfsK7IHPL0OLTf9o6mZRKtp2M7w”]Eight of the 13 Delta Force members’ compatriots were arrested on suspicion of storming court proceedings and aiding the escape of the 13 from court custody.

But charges were controversially dropped and the eight walked free for what some considered the most heinous crime in the whole saga.

According to the Asantehene, such developments compared to hefty punishments slapped on offenders who commit misdemeanors and petty crimes undermine the confidence of Ghanaians in the quality of the justice delivery system.

“If someone steals a goat and is fined GHc 5,000 and is additionally slapped with a jail term, how can people who invade a courtroom, overpower a security, release suspects and put the lives of a judge and staff in danger, and as their punishment are given a paltry fine of GHc 1,800 and discharged. Has justice been served?”

“If such judgments come from the court, how can you prevent people from questioning the quality of justice delivered by our judges? Unfortunately, it takes only one case or very few cases for the quality of justice that you profess to deliver to be through into the woods.”

The Asantehene thus urged the judiciary to establish benchmarks to redeem the eroded confidence of the public in the legal system.

“I hope and pray that by the end of this forum, such ramification of quality justice will be more meaningfully appreciated so we can all be witnesses for the realization of the vision of quality judges delivering quality justice,” he said.

Pledge to build first-class judiciary

Speaking at the forum, the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo said she was working to build a first-class judiciary system as she spoke on the theme: ‘Quality judges, delivering quality judgment’.

“My mission is to build a first-class judiciary for our dear country espoused on seven key policy factors; judicial temperament, competence, ethics, independence, judicial skills, health and character.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Asantehene questions quality of justice after Delta Force saga appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Bishops, government must change from just talk about ending vigilantism and take real action.

Since the NPP took office in January, over 20 acts of violence allegedly perpetrated by youth groups affiliated to the governing party have been recorded.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7EgpZSXasUOpBJhBUAhbRSVPqhFoPQkQ”]However, in most of the cases, there has not been real action that will deter others from engaging in such acts.

The Catholic Bishops Conference in a communiqué issued at the end of its annual plenary assembly, also charged the security agencies to intensify their efforts to end vigilantism.

A part of the communiqué from the just ended Catholic Bishops Conference said “We cannot ignore the fact that, land guards, political vigilante groups and nomadic herdsmen have unleashed violence on Ghanaians for a very longtime. These groups are employed by Ghanaians to protect their property, but often terrorize fellow Ghanaians who have variant interest in the same property. Vigilante groups are creation of some politicians who use them for their political gains. Whilst we commend government for calling on the security agencies to stop the violent activities of land guards, vigilante groups and nomadic herdsmen, we state that we need more action than words. Government must walk the talk. We demand that our security agencies shall disengage these group once and for all.”

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Disband vigilante groups once and for all – Catholic Bishops to gov’t appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“Law is law, and it must be enforced in this country. So I will ask that if they [vigilante groups] are our members they should stop doing that because people who do that ought to face the rigorous of the law,” he warned in a Citi News interview.

The country has recorded over 20 cases of violence allegedly perpetrated by youth groups affiliated to the governing party since the beginning of the year, 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AKNQBvYULaqOg8wq3vy8bhgcnrscAxDZ”]Notable among them is the terrorizing of the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei, by members of Delta Force.

Just last week, some rampaging youth believed to be sympathizers of NPP in Gwollu, the capital of the Sissala West District in the Upper West Region, stormed the Assembly and locked up the District Chief Executive, Mohammed Bakor in his office, after they accused the DCE of engaging in “divide and rule” tactics, and failing to address their concerns.

Many especially opposition parties and civil society organisations, have accused government of losing control of the country following the violent attacks perpetrated by the perceived NPP youth groups.

Freddie Blay in the Citi News interview said such cases are regrettable and must not be encouraged by anyone.

“I think it is regrettable and must be condemned. That kind of hooliganism, we must stop it. Whatever it is, government has appointed individuals and given them positions and tasked them to perform some roles in the management of this country. We should respect that, whoever we are; members of our party, supporters should not take the law into their own hands. I will tell all our members in this country particularly party leadership, supporters and the youth that we must discourage that, we must not give a backing to that. We should not encourage young men to do it that way. Directly or indirectly we should stop that.”

He also rejected claims that government is not in control of the country hence such attacks by the party’s members.

He noted that “government is in full control of this. We have asked peace enforcers to take charge of it and do what is appropriate.”

NPP can’t ‘remote control’ vigilante supporters – Sammy Awuku

Meanwhile, the Youth Organizer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sammi Awuku, has conceded that his party cannot control all its members across the country, but said they should not be blamed for the rise in acts of political vigilantism.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Awuku however cautioned against treating the increased vigilantism as an NPP matter, and asserted that “we must also treat it as a matter that cuts across the political divide and not limit it to just the NPP.”

“If we also want to play the partisan card, we can give a total recall of hundreds of incidents, but that does not solve the matter,” he added.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Naa K. Siaw-Marfo/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Stop attacks or face the law– Blay warns NPP hooligans appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“Storming the court to free people who are on trial is worse than sitting on radio and threatening the court. It is worse, so we expect that the system will treat it with the seriousness that it requires, but as it turns out, all we are left with is feeling high and dry,” he said on Eyewitness News on Thursday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”DeFSlqhckKGZSQJvgrZJefs3MARpIKMe”]Mr. Ankomah said this when his views were sought on the GHc1, 800 fines imposed on the 13 members of the Delta Force, who were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime by rioting, after they were captured on a video manhandling the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei.

While the case was being heard, some of their members stormed the court and set their colleagues free, leaving the judge and court staff in shock.

The 13 suspectes later turned themselves in to the court, and were made to sign a bond of good behaviour, and fined Ghc2,400 cedis each.

But under rather bizarre circumstances, the eight persons who raided the court, were freed for lack of evidence, a development that was widely condemned, considering the threat that action posed to the judiciary.

Following these developments, many have described the fines slapped on the 13 as weak, and a subtle attempt by the government to ensure that the culprits who are members of the ruling party do not spend time in jail.

Some civil society organizations including the Center for Democratic Development, has said the fines are woefully inadequate.

In the case of the infamous Montie three, Salifu Maase, the host of a political show on Montie FM, a pro-NDC station, and two of his panelists – Alistair Nelson, and Godwin Ako Gunn – were convicted of contempt by the Supreme Court and jailed four months for threatening the lives of some Justices of the Supreme Court.

However, former President John Mahama remitted the jail term after some Ministers and leading members of the National Democratic Congress petitioned him since the contemnors were perceived NDC loyalists.

Ace Ankomah told Richard Dela Sky on Eyewitness News that, such the handling of the Delta Force case “feed the perception that if your government is in power, somehow, you can get away with such acts.”

He warned further that, such occurrences “are emboldening more people to storm a police station to free somebody who has been arrested, to storm a DCE’s Office to scare the person out of office.”

AG can appeal Delta Force 13 fines

Ace Ankomah also said the Attorney-General can appeal the fines handed out to the 13 Delta Force members if they so wish.

“…If they feel the fines are not big enough, then the AG could appeal against not the conviction, but the sentencing; the amount of the fine, to give another court the opportunity to review,” Mr. Ankomah opined on Eyewitness News.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Delta Force court raid worse than Montie 3 – Ace Ankomah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 13, who were charged with rioting, walked free after paying GHc 1,800 each, and signing a bond to be of good behaviour for 12 months.

[contextly_sidebar id=”qlRpdhmvEVz8QJaCRn28oC4WWEAqXVhI”]”…If they feel the fines are not big enough, then the AG could appeal against not the conviction, but the sentencing; the amount of the fine, to give another court the opportunity to review,” Mr. Ankomah opined on Eyewitness News.

He stressed that, such a course of action would be important because the NPP government “must send a message to Ghanaians that it will not tolerate impunity.”

The government has been criticized for its relaxed approach against the acts of lawlessness from elements within its party.

The Delta Force case was viewed as the perfect avenue for the government to send a strong message to such acts, especially during the first court appearance of the 13, where escaped from lawful custody, after eight of their compatriots sparked confusion in the court in protest of the Judge’s ruling that the 13 be remanded and not given bail.

The Delta Force members suspected to have stormed the court were arrested but set free for supposed lack of evidence.

Ace Ankomah described that incident as worse than the Montie Three who threatened the lives of Supreme Court Justices, landing themselves four-month jail sentences.

“Storming the court to free people who are on trial is worse than sitting on radio and threatening the court. It is worse, so we expect that the system will treat it with the seriousness that it requires, but as it turns out, all we are left with is feeling high and dry.”

“It feeds the perception that if your government is in power, somehow, you can get away with such acts,” the lawyer added. We warned further that, such occurrences “are emboldening more people to storm a police station to free somebody who has been arrested, to storm a DCE’s Office to scare the person out of office.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post AG can appeal Delta Force 13 fines – Ace Ankomah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 13, who were prosecuted for assaulting the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator in March 2017 in protest against his appointment, were finally sentenced to a fine of Ghc1,800 each, and made to sign a bond of good behaviour.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Ytv0r2cDLFHEAgUKYWMvtO22Peg5Fl8v”]This was after their charges were reviewed from assaulting a public officer and causing unlawful damage to rioting.

It would be recalled that, during the trial, the 13 suspects were freed from open court allegedly by their colleagues, who were angered by the decision of the judge at the time to remand them into police custody.

The 13 suspects later turned themselves in to the court, and were made to sign a bond of good behaviour, and fined Ghc2,400 cedis each.

But under rather bizarre circumstances, the eight persons who raided the court, were freed for lack of evidence, a development that was widely condemned, considering the threat that action posed to the judiciary.

Following these developments, many have described the fines slapped on the 13 as weak, and a subtle attempt by the government to ensure that the culprits who are members of the ruling party do not spend time in jail.

Mr. Dery however downplayed these suggestions, insisting government prosecuted the 13 Delta Force members although they are believed to be members of the NPP.

He said the government cannot be blamed for the sentence handed to them by the judiciary.

“…Vigilantism is real, and the Akufo-Addo government hasn’t run away from it. This is the government that has taken people that are known as its supporters and sent to court, they went through due process, they were convicted and they were sentenced.

“I’ve heard people say that the sentences are not harsh enough, but let’s put it in context. The law in the kind of offences they were charged with encourages reconciliation and settlements outside. If you put it in that context, we didn’t even allow a settlement of the matter which would have still been within the law. We sent it there, and it’s not our remit.  It’s the remit of the judiciary, and the judiciary has taken a decision – they have been convicted, they have been sentenced… so we need to go beyond mere criticism to find out what are the legal limitations in sentencing. What are the considerations in sentencing; but what I can say with pride is that, we are not condoning any actions,” he explained.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We prosecuted Delta Force 13 although they’re NPP – Dery appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The District Chief Executive of Karaga, Alhassan Yabdoo, allegedly caused the arrest of some NPP communicators sparking the outrage and the eventual attack on the police station.

This continued the trend of brazen outbursts of chaos from groups aligned to the NPP in the wake of the party’s 2016 election victory.

The incidents reported began on smaller scales, with seizing of toll booths and public toilets, normally witnessed after the change of power from the National Democratic Congress to the NPP and vice versa.

These incidents escalated to assaults on police personnel and state institutions, and reached a zenith of lawlessness when NPP members sparked chaos in the court of law, and freed their compatriots, standing trial for raiding the Ashanti Regional Security Council, and assaulting the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator.

The commitment of the government was called into question when the heftiest sanction meted out to the offenders in the saga was a fine, despite an action that undermined the authority of the executive and the judiciary.

The State said there was not enough evidence to prosecute the Delta Force members who raided the court.

Those who assaulted the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator were only sentenced to a fine of Ghc1,800 each, and made to sign a bond of good behaviour after they were charged with rioting.

Casualties have been minimal in all the reported cases, but instances of assault have been recorded, with some acts also bordering on armed robbery.

State agencies and processes have been held to ransom with school feeding caterers, hospital administrators and presidential appointees bearing the brunt of the wrath of rampaging NPP members.

These acts of lawlessness are seemingly fueled by a sense of entitlement or frustration informed by precedent and promises made politicians to them ahead of the elections.

Some of the notable instances of lawlessness by NPP members are listed below:

December 12, 2016: Alleged NPP supporters take over Tema Motorway toll booth

Irate youth believed to be supporters of the NPP illegally took over the Tema Motorway toll booth and chased away the officially designated toll collectors.

They then began illegally taking the tolls themselves.

December 13, 2016: Two alleged NPP supporters arrested for attempting to seize toilet facilities

Two persons believed to be supporters of the NPP were arrested for attempting to seize toilet facilities within the Kumasi metropolis.

The two were part of a gang that stormed Ash town in Kumasi to take over the management of public toilets in the area. These actions occurred a few hours after Nana Akufo-Addo was declared the winner in the December 7 elections.

January 9, 2017: Policeman at Flagstaff House assaulted by Invincible Forces member

Footage emerged showing the NPP’s ‘Invincible Forces’ assaulting a police officer at the Flagstaff House for allegedly keeping state vehicles.

The video showed the private security detail of the NPP forcing out the State security personnel, ASP Bruce Nanka, amid efforts by other police officers to restore order.

January 10, 2017: NPP youth lockup NHIS office in Bodi

NPP youth in the Bodi District of the Western Region besieged and locked up the office of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in the area.

Confirming the incident to Citi News, the Member of Parliament for the area, Sampson Ahi, said the suspects put the office under lock and key and injured the manager of the Scheme in the district.

January 13, 2017: NPP chairman arrested over illegal seizure of toll booth

The Amasaman Divisional Police Command arrested the NPP Constituency Chairman for Trobu, Kwame Ofosu Agyei, for attempting to take over activities at the Doblo toll booth.

According to Police, the constituency chairman was arrested for forcibly entering the toll booth and threatening to take over revenue collection. He is also accused of assaulting a police officer who was on duty at the time.

January 13, 2017: Five arrested for seizing AMA tolls, assaulting collector

The Accra Regional Police command arrested five people at CMB and Makola Markets in Accra, for preventing revenue collectors from issuing toll tickets to traders.

The suspects allegedly seized toll tickets, assaulted the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Revenue Collectors, and also collected cash to the sum of GHc 2,000 from them.

January 14, 2017: NPP supporters take over public toilets in Koforidua

NPP supporters in the New Juaben North and South Constituencies of the Eastern Region, forcibly took over the operations of public toilets in the municipality.

The NPP activists took over the operation of all the public toilets in the municipality, the midnight after Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn into office as the President of Ghana.

February 22, 2017: NPP’s Kandahar Boys ‘torment’ Tamale Teaching Hospital CEO

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Dr. Prosper Akambong was unable to effect his duties after his office was locked up by a popular vigilante group affiliated to the NPP, the Kandahar Boys group.

The group’s action was in protest against the CEO’s alleged mismanagement of the facility.

March 25, 2017: NPP’s Delta Force attack Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator

The NPP’s Delta Force in Kumasi stormed the premises of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, demanding the removal of the Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei.

The rowdy group destroyed some properties and forced the Security Coordinator out of his office. The group said it could not work with him because he did not contribute to the party’s electoral success.

March 30, 2017: Invisible Forces attack school feeding caterers in Atebubu

The NPP’s Invincible Forces, attacked the pupils and teachers of Atecoe Demonstration Basic School in Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The teachers and pupils of the school had to run for their lives when the men stormed the school premises to attack caterers of the School Feeding Programme. They also destroyed cooking utensils belonging to the caterers.

April 3, 2017:  NPP’s Invincible forces allegedly lock up Eastern Regional NHIS office

About 20 heavy built men believed to be members of the NPP’s Invincible Forces besieged the offices of the Eastern Regional National Health Insurance Scheme, and forcibly locked the office of the Regional Manager.

They claim they cannot work with the Regional Manager, whom they allege is an outsider and not part of the NPP.

They also demanded some documents from the staff of the scheme.

April 6, 2017: NPP Delta Force storms court; set suspects free

Members of the Delta Force stormed the Kumasi Circuit Court and freed the members of their group who were facing charges for causing disturbances at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.

The group vandalized some court properties, and almost assaulted the Judge, Mary Senkyire, after she had ruled that their counterparts be remanded after charges of conspiracy to assault a public officer and causing unlawful damage.

June 15, 2017: NPP youth clash with police in Savelugu over MCE position

Some irate youth of the governing NPP were engaged in a standoff with police at the premises of the Savelugu/Nantong municipal assembly complex.

The youth locked up the main entrance to the building, following a security escort for the MCE, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu to her office, who was under fire from the members, and prevented from accessing her office for weeks.

Armed security personnel dispatched to maintain law and order, were compelled to fire warning shots to bring the situation under control.

July 25, 2017: ‘Unemployed’ NPP youth seize contractor’s equipment over jobs

Youth who claim to be supporters of New Patriotic Party (NPP) stopped construction work on the Yendi-Bimbilla section of the Eastern Corridor roads demanding immediate employment.

The youth on Monday seized construction equipment belonging the contractors, Andre Quadrez Construction Company. They vowed that they will not release the equipment until they were employed the company.

July 27, 2017, 2017: NPP youth storm Ashanti MMT terminal over new director

Some aggrieved members of the NPP in the Ashanti Region stormed the premises of the Metro Mass Transit Bus terminal in the region to stop one Nicholas Oduro from holding himself as the Regional Depot Manager.

According to them, Mr. Oduro could not claim to be the head when Daniel Agyenim Boateng, the Deputy Regional Organizer of the party has already been appointed as the Manager.

The youth, who vowed to ensure that Mr. Oduro does not occupy any office at the premises of the company, claimed a leading member of the NPP, Mr. Amoako Tuffour, was behind the “illegal” appointment of Nicholas Oduro.

August 1, 2017: NPP Invincible Forces threaten chaos over jobs

The Tema base of the Invincible forces threatened chaos in the Tema metropolis if the NPP government did not provide them with jobs.

The aggrieved Invisible Forces members said they were being ridiculed for being jobless, despite the fact that they worked to bring their party to power.

They served notice they will vent their frustrations on Tema in a manner akin to the Delta Force’s disturbances in Kumasi if their neglect by the government did not end.

October 16, 2017: NPP youth lockup School Feeding office in Tamale

An NPP group at Aboabo, a suburb of Tamale in the Northern Region, calling itself the Burma Camp Youth Wing, vowed never to unlock the Northern Regional Secretariat of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP).

The group on Monday, October 16, 2017, chased out the Regional Coordinator and staff of the office, and locked up the offices over what they called unfair allocation of schools in the region to caterers.

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By: citifmonine.com/Ghana

The post 18 incidents of vigilante violence recorded since NPP’s victory appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“We are shocked at how these matters have been handled, and are even more appalled about the risible fines imposed on the persons found to have engaged in these criminal acts.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”qmcrOwAYMhP9TULU6lpLu4tD87D0X1lc”]“One would have thought that all would have learnt lessons from the Montie 3 incident, when it comes to dealing with the court,” Occupy Ghana said in a statement.

The Asokwa District Court in Kumasi, last Thursday, sentenced 13 Members of the Delta Force GHc1, 800 each for rioting at the premises of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.

They were also made to sign a bond to be of good behavior for 12 months, after the 5-month legal battle.

But OccupyGhana, which has been vocal on the issue of political vigilantism and political crimes carried out in the country, said it expected a stricter punishment to be meted out to the accused persons.

It said it expected the judiciary to send a strong signal to the 13 accused persons through a more appropriate sentence, but was disappointed that just “meek fines” were imposed on them.

“One would have expected that the judiciary, like it did with the Montie 3, would send a strong message to all, that similar conduct would not be tolerated. Unfortunately, the meek fines imposed can at best be described as a stab in the back of the judiciary by the judiciary itself,” it said.

Delta Force case

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

The eight 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 over a supposed 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.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post OccupyGhana appalled over paltry fines for Delta Force 13 appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to CDD-Ghana, the verdict is also a setback to efforts put in place to promote decency in Ghana’s politics.

“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,” CDD said in a statement.

13 Delta Force members fined GHc1,800 each

[contextly_sidebar id=”ngxaqAFtfyzuO3sluTLZlQP4EKOyVbFF”]A court in Kumasi in the Asanti Region last week, fined the 13 Delta Force members GHc1,800.

They were facing trial on counts of conspiracy to commit crimes and rioting, after they were captured in a video manhandling the  Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei.

According to the Center, the amount was a ‘slap-on-the-wrist’, and may go to encourage many political hooligans to perpetuate crime in the country.

“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,” CDD added in the statement.

Control vigilante groups now else…

The Head of Programs at the CDD, Kojo Asante, who further spoke on the matter on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, called on government to curb the menace of vigilante groups in the country immediately, before they get out of hand.

“You cannot convince the ordinary man on the street that this is justice; because just as you are doing this, there are people that have been jailed for owing someone GHc200. So you cannot create this kind of reality in society and expect that law and order will be respected.”

“This is a high profile case and it was completely bungled. I really think that if we don’t draw a line, we will really get to a point that you can’t really control them [vigilante groups] because there are many of them out there,” he added.

Read the CDD’s 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.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post ‘Lenient’ Delta Force sentence to breed lawlessness – CDD Ghana appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Frederick Kankam Boadu, it would have been unfair for the court to have jailed his clients.

[contextly_sidebar id=”rTlZ6iTFkadBAFoFNpAT8U2zCvQ6wUf2″]The Asokwa District Court in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, October 19, 2017,  fined all the 13 a GHc 1,800 each, and made them sign a bond of good behavior for 12 months.

Some have suggested that the sentence was weak, and not severe enough to deter others who engage in political vigilantism. But their lawyer insists the judgment is fair, and that a custodial sentence would have been unfair.

“We were charged with rioting, we did not waste the court’s time, they pleaded guilty and placed themselves at the mercy of the court, they showed remorse, they are first time offenders, and there were no aggravated circumstances available to the court. I don’t see why the court should impose a custodial sentence in this case, and put the taxpayer in expense by putting them in prison when they are strong men and can work to fend for themselves and perhaps give them the chance to reform,” he said in an interview on Eyewitness News on Thursday.

“In my view, the circumstances are such that, it would not have been fair if we were handed a custodial sentence,” he said.

But a member of the legal team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abraham Amaliba, has said that the sentence will breed political lawlessness in the country.

Reacting to the development on Eyewitness News, he said the suspects had been “treated with kids’ gloves”.

“They have been treated with kids’ gloves. The sentence in my view is going to breed more political lawlessness. It is this same case that occasioned the attack of a court and a judge in Kumasi, I thought that this was a fine opportunity for the court to send a signal strong signal to tell vigilante groups that they have no place in our democracy.”

Background

The 13 were arrested after they stormed the office of the newly appointed Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei, in March 201y7, and assaulted him in the process, in protest against his appointment.

They were initially facing charges of conspiracy to assault a public officer, and causing unlawful damage.

Those charges were reviewed to only rioting by the Kumasi Circuit Court on October 10.

Counseling for the 13

The Ashanti Regional Director of the Delta Force, Mohammed Seidu, who spoke to Citi News, expressed excitement at the ruling, though he admitted that the conduct of the 13 was not in order.

He however said the leadership of the Delta Force could not have left them to their fate when they were sent to court.

Mohammed Seidu added that, the group was going to begin counseling members of the group to be of good behavior.

He maintained that the group was not as violent as being put out in the public domain, as they would continue to provide security for the NPP.

This seemingly brings an end to a saga that began on March 24, 2017, when concerns over post-election violence were rife after the NPP assumed the mantle of governance.

This particular incident involving the Delta Force ironically came a few days after President Nana Akufo-Addo, who was on a tour of the Ashanti Region, assured that the rule of law will work without “fear or favour” when he called the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Court escape

The public was left stunned when at their first appearance in court, the 13 escaped from lawful custody, after their eight compatriots sparked confusion in the court in protest of the Judge’s ruling that the 13 be remanded and not given bail.

After the judge’s decision to remand the suspects, the members said they were not going to allow the ruling to stand, and demanded that the 13 leave the court with them.

The 13 later reported themselves to the police, and were fined GHc2,400 each, and also made to sign a bond of good behavior for escaping lawful custody. Eight Delta Force members were accused of aiding the escape, and were charged for storming the court to release the 13.

But the charges 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.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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