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

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The eight suspects, who were standing trial for the offense, were set free for lack of evidence against them.

Government has since been heavily criticized for letting the offenders off the hook for such an action that threatens the sanctity of the judiciary.

Speaking to Citi News, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ken Yeboah, said his outfit will find the real offenders, and get the necessary evidence to back their prosecution.

[contextly_sidebar id=”f456eCzXQ24MfwdnU19D6X0jpjwQytNq”]“We are now going to re-investigate to find out whether we will be able to get the right people and the right information to be able to pin them to the case,” he said.

DCOP Yeboah also dispelled rumors that the state was not interested in the case, saying “motivation happens in every case, you have to get the right information and the right evidence to be able to prosecute somebody but if you don’t have it, you cannot prosecute because in a criminal case, prosecution would have to prove beyond reasonable doubt, and if you are unable to do it, the person will be acquitted and discharged.”

He said in the case in question, “we [Police] have to go back and do it again because they said we didn’t have enough evidence.”

“If we didn’t have enough evidence we have to go back and re-investigate to establish who did what. We were not able to link the people to the evidence that we have, and so we have to go back and do it. If we are lucky, we will be able to get enough evidence to link them to the case,” he added.

Background

The eight Delta Force members were standing trial for storming a Kumasi Court and in the process setting free thirteen of their colleagues, who were charged for assaulting the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator.

After that incident, the 13 who escaped later reported themselves to the police, and were put in custody again. When their case was called, they were remanded, fined and made to sign a bond of good behaviour for escaping lawful custody.

Following this, it was expected that the eight persons who were arrested by the police for raiding the court, would have been prosecuted and  severely punished. But in a shocking turn of events, the eight have been freed with state attorneys claiming lack of evidence against them.

The Principal State Attorney in the case, Marie Louise-Simmons, who was the representative of the Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo, said the charges against the suspects must be dropped because there was insufficient evidence against them.

The court, presided over by Her Honour, Patricia Amponsah, subsequently discharged the accused persons and dismissed the case, much to the frustration and anger of many Ghanaians.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey & Lauretta Timah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The lawyer, Mathew Appiah’s comment comes on the back of several calls from especially members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for a possible re-arrest and re-trial of the court raiders who were freed for lack of evidence.

Mr. Appiah in a Citi News interview said the Attorney General cannot overturn the earlier decision of the State Attorney in Kumasi because he acted lawfully.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2FQx5dY4wVGXvOzXnk3pPhg6yooOEbp6″]“I wouldn’t believe that the Attorney General is dissatisfied with the decision that was taken by her agents in Ashanti Region. What I know is that the Ministry of Information has the right to come out and issue a statement as part of the government machinery but we will wait for the Attorney General to make a statement on this issue.”

“Because the law is that the chief state attorney in the Ashanti Region is a representative of the attorney general in Accra and the chief state attorney in Kumasi takes decisions on behalf of the Attorney General in Accra and that decision is binding on the Attorney General. So nobody can sit anywhere and take a decision that they are going to conduct any fresh investigation,” he explained.

Background

The eight Delta Force members were standing trial for vanderlising a Kumasi court and in the process setting free some of their members who were charged for assaulting the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator.

The Principal State Attorney in the case, Marie Louise-Simmons, who is the representation of the Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo, in her reply to a letter from the prosecutor for her legal opinion on the case, said the charges against the suspects must be dropped because there was insufficient evidence against them.

The court, presided over by Her Honour, Patricia Amponsah, subsequently discharged the accused and dismissed the case.

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

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He said the decision showed that government was taking Ghanaians for fools by trying to tell “kwaku ananse stories” about why the court raiders were freed.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AJcybhSS1GsiDSOTmCRFpI4mEY0MApr3″]The Principal State Attorney in the case, Marie Louise-Simmons, who is the representation of the Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo, in her reply to a letter from the prosecutor for her legal opinion on the case said the charges against the suspects must be dropped because there was insufficient evidence against them.

The court, presided over by Her Honour, Patricia Amponsah, therefore discharged the accused and dismissed the case.

But according to Mr. Braimah, the development smacks of blatant disregard for the rule of law.

In a Facebook post, he said, the development had the semblance of an instance during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government where 3 persons who openly campaigned for the government, were granted presidential pardon after they were duly convicted of offenses including threatening the life of a Supreme Court judges.

“Oh, so afterall, there is no difference between NPP and NDC. I am exceedingly disappointed. How can people storm a court to free suspects on trial and a government frees them just because they are members of the ruling party.”

“What is even more shameful is the efforts by the government to take Ghanaians for fools by giving us kwaku ananse stories on why the party thugs have been freed. Let someone tell them we are not fools. This is not only disgusting but embarrassing. I have been hoping the president is truly committed to rule of law,” he said in a Facebook post.

The Minority in Parliament called for the re-arrest of the eight members of vigilante group,

Haruna Iddrissu, who addressed the press on the matter called on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to show leadership in the face of what they [the minority] term as an utter disrespect to the institution of the Judiciary.

A Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Legal Team, Abraham Amaliba also described the basis for the release of the suspects as unreasonable.

Meanwhile, the government through the Ministry for Information denied that it sanctioned the drop of charges against the suspects.

It said the Principal State Attorney in the case, Marie Louise-Simmons acted on her own accord and did not consult the Attorney General on the matter.

It also added that it was taking the necessary steps to remedy the situation.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He said he was nonetheless excited they were freed since it confirmed his long-held view that they were innocent.

[contextly_sidebar id=”EML6Y5dJh6tcZuPXHBILYmytpCYr1kSx”]The 8 members of the pro-NPP vigilante group were standing trial for forcibly freeing some of their members who were facing charges of conspiracy to assault at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and assaulting the Regional Security Coordinator from lawful custody in April this year.

But at the hearing of the case on Wednesday, the principal State Attorney in a rather shocking statement said they did not have sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused persons.

This is despite the fact that the court raid occurred in broad daylight in the presence of many, including security officers at the court. A video footage also emerged with more details as to what happened and who

A video footage also emerged with more details as to what happened, but according to the Attorney, the evidence was not enough hence the decision to drop charges.

The court, presided over by Her Honour, Patricia Amponsah was forced to discharge the accused persons and dismissed the case on that ground.

Lawyer Matthew Appiah in an interview with Citi News said, they were not expecting the decision by the state attorney. “As we have already indicated, there was no evidence to show that the accused persons were the people who forcibly entered the courtroom on that fateful day… the docket was sent to the AG’s department and they studied it so that is their conclusion,” he said. – See more

“As we have already indicated, there was no evidence to show that the accused persons were the people who forcibly entered the courtroom on that fateful day… We thought that the Police had come with their evidence. We didn’t know the evidence they had but the docket was sent to the AG’s department and they studied it so that is their conclusion…We were not expecting it, we were just informed about it by the Police this morning [Wednesday],” he said.

State attorney didn’t consult AG before dropping charges

Meanwhile, government has denied that it sanctioned a decision to the drop charges against the freed Delta Force members.

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

It further hinted that it was further investigating the matter and will take the necessary actions to remedy the situation.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’re surprised but happy with AG’s decision – Delta Force lawyer appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The eight are facing trial at the Kumasi Circuit Court 2, for disturbing a court session, resisting arrest, and freeing the 13 Delta Force members who were in lawful custody.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wGLgkFjeqMcNRGGdmkdHMgP5ZMhrOJaS”]The prosecutor, ACP Okyere Darko, on Tuesday, pleaded that ample time be given them for further investigations.

Lawyer for the accused persons, Gary Nimako, has argued that his clients are not guilty because they were not arrested at the scene of the crime.

Her Honor, Justice Patricia Amponsah, ordered that the 8 reappear before court on the 17th of May.

8 Delta Force court raiders granted bail

They eight were last week granted bail by the Kumasi Court.

The bail conditions was GHc 10,000 each with two sureties, and they were also to report to the police CID on Tuesday, April 18, before 3:00 pm.

The 13 Delta Force members who were freed, were facing charges for raiding the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and assaulting its coordinator.

The 13 have since been granted bail, and are to reappear before the court on the 20th of April, 2017, after charges of conspiracy to assault a public officer and causing unlawful damage.

They were also granted bail of GHc 10,000 each, with two sureties. Meanwhile, the 13 have already been tried for escaping from court.

They were each fined Ghc2,400, and made to sign a bond of good behaviour for six months.

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By: Lauretta Timah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Delta Force court raiders’ case adjourned to May 17   appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The bail conditions are GHc 10,000 each with two sureties, and they are also to report to the police CID on Tuesday, April 18, before 3:00 pm.

The eight had been denied bail by a Kumasi Circuit court on Monday, April 10, when they were remanded in police custody.

Their lawyers had argued that, the case was bailable, but the bail plea was turned down by the presiding judge.

The lawyers subsequently took their plea for a bail to the High Court after the denial.

The eight have been charged with disturbing a court session, for resisting arrest, and freeing the 13 persons who were in lawful custody.

The 13 Delta Force members who were freed, were facing charges for raiding the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and assaulting its coordinator.

The 13 have since been granted bail, and are to reappear before the court on the 20th of April, 2017, after charges of conspiracy to assault a public officer and causing unlawful damage.

They were also granted bail of GHc 10,000 each, with two sureties who must be residents of Kumasi.

Meanwhile, the 13 have already been tried for escaping from court.  They were each fined Ghc2,400 each, and made to sign a bond of good behaviour for six months.

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By: Lauretta Timah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 8 Delta Force court raiders granted bail appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a Citi News interview, the MP argued that, the unprecedented nature of the crime and the international embarrassment that came with it, warranted sanctions that would serve as a deterrent.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ZFpvDz7mDD3QY5TB525uSmGiCFPDIVaA”]The 13 Delta Force members were fined 200 penalty units, translating to GHc2,400 or in default spend three years in prison.

They are also to sign a bond of good behaviour and abide by the terms for a period of six months or in default serve two years jail term.

The members, however remain on trial on the initial charges of conspiracy to assault a public officer and causing unlawful damage, after they allegedly raided the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, and assaulted the Regional Security Coordinator because they were against his appointment.

Fines will not serve as deterrent

Though the 13 remain on trial, Mr. Ablakwa said he still held the view that “the court decision on the matter of their arrest is not harsh enough to serve as a deterrent. It would appear that it is just a slap on the wrist.”

“If you look at the fact this has never happened in our history and how their singular act has attracted so much negative international publicity and negative international attention which is undermining our democratic credentials and reducing our status in the comity of nations.”

Mr. Ablakwa noted further that, the UN had even been compelled to issue a “damning” statement on the incident.

“I thought that the respective judges should have taken all of this into consideration because this is really akin to a jailbreak, and normally when these things happen in other jurisdictions, the severest of sanctions are issued.”

The UN in a joint statement from the special representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel; Mohammed Ibn Chambas, and the Resident Coordinator of the UN system in Ghana; Christiane Evans-Klock, described the attacks in Kumasi as reprehensible.

The UN also called for a thorough government investigation into these incidents, noting that Ghana’s image was being affected by these developments in Kumasi

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

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Citi News’ Lauretta Timah reported that, the eight were accompanied by tight security comprising a SWAT team from Accra and police in plain clothes.

The accused were seen to be generally calm as they were walked into the court in handcuffs.

Lawyers of the remanded Delta Force members had argued that the case was bailable, but the bail plea was turned down by the presiding judge.

The eight have been charged with disturbing a court session, for resisting arrest, and freeing the 13 persons who were in lawful custody.

The 13 Delta Force members were facing charges for raiding the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and assaulting its coordinator.

The judge had ruled that the 13 be remanded to reappear before the court on the 20th of April, 2017, after charges of conspiracy to assault a public officer and causing unlawful damage.

But the displeasure of some onlooking Delta Force members with the ruling, sparked the fracas at the court leading to the escape of the 13.

The 13 who escaped court custody, have since reported themselves back to custody, and will remain on remand until the 20^th of April when they will be arraigned at the Kumasi Circuit Court.

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

The post 8 Delta Force members remanded over court raid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 13 escaped after other members of the vigilante group forcibly entered the court on Thursday, where they were being tried for a similar raid on the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council.

[contextly_sidebar id=”mwn66TEKljyd62KfVq2fq7B62tYf1HUL”]The opposition party held that, the President, Nana Akufo-Addo “and his roguish groups of lawless gangsters” were seemingly on the cusp of bastardizing Ghana’s democracy.

The party said, if President Akufo-Addo does not heed its demands within seven days, it “shall embark on a series of mass actions via all peaceful and lawful means to press home our demands further to ensure that this “Black Thursday” never occurs again in the annals of Ghana’s history.”

Nana Addo responsible for attack

The NDC asserting firmly that, President Akufo-Addo was “directly responsible for this dastardly attack on the Institutions of State.”

“The NDC is calling on President Akufo-Addo to act swiftly and bring his fellow party members perpetrating these ignominious acts to book in order to redeem the enviable image of Ghana as a peaceful exemplary democratic country which was bequeathed to him less than 100 days ago.”

The NDC further noted that, there had been a rise in actions of vigilante groups since President Akufo-Addo took power.

“It is extremely shameful that less than 100 days after being handed over a peaceful Ghana by the outgone NDC Administration, the Government of President Nana Akufo-Addo has shown unprecedented levels, of, WEAKNESS,  GROSS INCOMPETENCE, and an INABILITY  to maintain the basic tenets of law and order and its attendant twin of the  protection of life and property.”

“The recent incident of raiding a law court and freeing criminals on remand brings to the fore the high rise in the practice of organised political thuggery and terrorist activities by the NPP since President Akuffo-Addo got sworn-in as President,” the statement added.

Find below the full statement

PRESIDENT AKUFFO-ADDO AND NPP MUST TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR TERROR ATTACK BY THE MILITANT LAWLESS “DELTA FORCE” ON KUMASI CIRCUIT COURT.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC), condemns in no uncertain terms and without any reservations, the attack on the Circuit Court in Kumasi yesterday, by a group of lawless brigands known as the Delta Force, who owe unalloyed allegiance to President Nana Akuffo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

This shameful and barbaric conduct by the so-called “Delta Forces” of NPP, is absolutely repugnant, bizarre and reprehensible. These wanton unleashing of acts of banditry on the people of Ghana since the, 7th of January, 2017, when Nana Akuffo-Addo took over the reins of Government, cannot be tolerated any longer in Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana in this 21st Century.

The judiciary is the last bastion for the protection of our fundamental human rights as a People, as well as the maintenance of the rule of law in a free and democratic country like the one that we have worked tirelessly for decades to establish for ourselves.

It is extremely shameful that less than 100 days after being handed over a peaceful Ghana by the outgone NDC Administration, the Government of President Nana Akuffo Addo has shown unprecedented levels, of, WEAKNESS,  GROSS INCOMPETENCE, and an INABILITY  to maintain the basic tenets of law and order and its attendant twin of the  protection of life and property.

The loud silence and unresponsiveness of the President, to calls by well-meaning Ghanaians to bring these party militants to order, has led to the dastardly unleashing of uncontrolled terror and mayhem on innocent citizens, public servants and the worse of it all; its extension in a most sinister manner to both the security apparatus and judiciary.

The National Democratic Congress considers yesterday, Thursday, April 06, 2017, as a DAY OF SHAME.

Indeed, we have labelled the day as the ‘BLACK THURSDAY’ in Ghana’s Fourth Republican Dispensation, and shall forever remember it as a sordid black spot on the democracy of Mother Ghana.

The NDC is calling on President Akufo-Addo whose NPP is directly responsible for this dastardly attack on the Institutions of State, to act swiftly and bring his fellow party members perpetrating these ignominious acts to book in order to redeem the enviable image of Ghana as a peaceful exemplary democratic country which was bequeathed to him less than 100 days ago.

The NDC would also like to assure all State Institutions that the democratic culture nurtured among Ghanaians in almost a quarter of a century of our recent political dispensation will not be allowed to be bastardised by Nana Akuffo-Addo and his roguish Groups of lawless gangsters.

In the build-up to the 2016 General Elections, the NPP was culpable in the importation of South African Mercenaries into the country to train hoodlums in Agona Dwakua, and it is not surprising therefore that after using all kinds of subterfuge tactics to walk its way into power, Nana Akuffo-Addo has let loose his thugs on innocent Ghanaians as well as Institutions of State.

We therefore join a host of, well-meaning citizens, political Parties, and social activists, in forcefully condemning the actions of these militant and fiendish wings of the NPP.

The recent incident of raiding a law court and freeing criminals on remand, brings to the fore the high rise in the practice of organized political thuggery and terrorist activities by the NPP since President Akuffo-Addo got sworn-in as President.

The violent takeover of state agencies; offices and institutions; burning of toll booths; vandalism of police stations; are some of the dastardly acts that have been carried out by the NPP’s thugs.

Of course, on numerous occasions, NDC members have been brutalised by these NPP militant wings and activists.

The lack of action on the part of President Akuffo Addo and the NPP Government to stem the rise of these deluge of lawlessness in Ghana has made it very difficult for the NDC not to conclude that there is an organized and state sponsored agenda to run the country by private party militia groups in clear violation of our Constitution which prohibits private militias.

To put it pointedly; President Akuffo-Addo and the NPP, are consciously sponsoring “state terrorism”!!!!!

Ghana is on a slippery path towards enabling the activities of terrorist groups to fester and gain roots and it must not be countenanced.

The signals Ghana is currently witnessing, are very similar to what happened in countries that have become theatres of political intolerance, vigilante justice and ultimately violent terrorism and civil conflicts.

As matter of urgency; and to show a strong commitment to the fight against terror and terrorism, the NDC is calling on the Ghana Police to immediately effect the arrest of Hon. Kennedy Agyapong who in the full glare of public television, made it abundantly clear that he is the master brain behind the lawless acts of the Delta Forces, and also went ahead to dare the State to prosecute these militants, and bear the brunt of the wrath of himself and the NPP.  Such arrogance!!!!

We also use this opportunity call on the following security bosses who have shown complete failure in dealing with this matter, to resign their positions with immediate effect; the Interior Minister, the Minister for National Security, the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Coordinator.

Whiles at it, we demand the following from the President Akufo-Addo Government;

• A swift action to continue with the trial of those members of the “Delta Force” who were standing trial for an attack on the Regional Security Coordinator at the Kumasi Regional Administration Offices last week;
• An immediate arrest and trial of all those involved in the attack on the circuit court;
• That the President take full responsibility for these actions.

The NDC is by this statement giving the President a 7day ultimatum for these actions to be taken.

If these actions are not taken by the end of the 7 days, we shall embark on a series of mass actions via all peaceful and lawful means to press home our demands further to ensure that this “Black Thursday” never occurs again in the annals of Ghana’s history.

Ghana is the land of freedom and justice; the NDC demands justice for ALL citizens.

Never; shall the National Democratic Congress sit idly by, and watch Nana Akuffo-Addo and the NPP destroy this dear nation of ours!!!  God forbid!!!!

God bless us all.

Long Live Ghana,

Long Live Ghana’s Democracy

Long Live Law Abiding Citizens

Long Live the NDC

Signed:

Johnson Asiedu Nketia

General Secretary

7th April, 2017

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

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