Some galamsey operatives arrested for engaging in illegal mining in the Atewa Forest went berserk on Monday, May 24, 2021, at the premises of Koforidua Circuit Court’ B’ after the court refused them bail.
The prosecution led by Dickson Donkor and Helen Samlafo both state Attorneys, and Silvester Asare – Police Prosecutor prayed the court to remand the accused persons into Police Custody to enable further investigation into some names of individuals mentioned by the accused persons as those who allegedly sent them.
But the lawyers for the accused persons, however, prayed to the court that their clients will not run away and that they will be available anytime the court needs them, therefore, be considered to grant them bail.
The court presided by Her Honour Mercy Addei Kotei, however, remanded the accused into Police Custody to reappear on June 8, 2021.
This is the second time the accused persons have been refused bail by the Court.
Friends and family members of the accused persons who were expectant of bail for the accused persons were disappointed and cried uncontrollably at the premises of the court.
Some of the accused persons seated in handcuffs in a bus, went berserk accusing the ruling New Patriotic Party of using and dumping them.
Some of them alleged that the party used them to commit atrocities in Ayawaso West Wuagon by-election as well as the 2020 Presidential election in Kumasi.
“You sent us to Ayawaso, in the 2020 elections you sent us to Kumasi to make a show. But today you are calling us thieves meanwhile it is the office of the President that sent us to the Atewa Forest. NPP is not a good party. We will show them.”
The 32 accused persons are George Asante, Kwaku Frimpong, Alfred Kyei, Yaw Opoku, Richard Nartey, Paul Osei Kuffour, Dominic Beblie, Samuel Kofi Edusei, Silas Boakye Gyan, Joseph Oduro Asare, Mukaila Attah, Stephen Opoku, Michael Quansah, Derrick Adu Kwakye, Razark Suleman, Stephen Kofi Felan, Dominic Ghansah, Robert Nartey Tetteh, Eric Addei, Yakubu Mohammed@ Jordan 1 and Benlord Abebio@ Commander.
The rest are Adam Dakurugu, Kwame Isaac, Joe Acquah, Emmanuel Arhin, Samuel Asiedu Gyamfra, David Akakpo, Ebenezer Boateng, Joseph Kwaku Gyqmfi, Fuseini Alhassan, Alhassan Asibi and Gabriel Dormate.
They have been charged provisionally with possession of firearms without lawful excuse.
Source: StarrFmOnline
