A driver from Akatsi in the Volta Region, Anthony Dormekpo, who allegedly recruited some unsuspecting persons into the ‘army’ of a separatist group, Homeland Study Group Foundation, has been granted bail of GH¢100,000 by an Accra Circuit Court.
The accused is to provide four sureties, one of whom must be earning not less than GH¢3,000 a month. He is also to report himself to the police every Friday.
The accused was granted bail after his lawyer, George Asameni, filed an application praying the court to grant him bail pending his trial.
The application was opposed by the prosecution, but the court presided over by Ellen Ofei Ayeh, after hearing from both sides, granted the accused person bail.
The case was adjourned to July 10, 2020 for continuation.
Fact
Twenty persons arrested in the Volta Region at the military training ground of Homeland Study Group Foundation have been discharged by an Accra Circuit Court as the prosecution dropped all charges against them yesterday.
The accused persons made of 19 males and a female were released after the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Simon Apiosornu told the court that the suspects were ‘victims of circumstances’ because they had no idea they were being recruited into the guerilla army of the secessionist group.
However, Anthony Dormekpo was remanded by the court as the prosecution charged him with two counts of “to attend meeting of a prohibited organisation” and “to participate in a campaign of a prohibited organisation.”
The accused, according to the prosecution, is a member of the prohibited group who recruited the other 20 individuals under the guise of protocol enlistment into Ghana Armed Forces while others were recruited to work on a farm allegedly owned by a ‘white man’.
The individuals were said to have paid between GH¢400 and GH¢800 as registration fees.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak