AN ACCRA Circuit Court has ordered the Office of the Attorney General and the Inspector General of Police to produce before it some 12 persons arrested for their involvement in the renewed chieftaincy clashes in Bawku.
This was after the prosecution was unable to produce the accused persons before the court for a second time since their arrest on December 28, 2021.
The suspects were arrested last Tuesday following a renewed chieftaincy clash in Bawku which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of properties.
The prosecution could however, not put the accused persons before the court despite an order by the court on the police to do so when the accused persons were absent in court on January 1, 2022.
Frederick Adu-Gyemfi, an Assistant State Attorney, yesterday told the court that they could not produce the accused persons due to circumstances beyond their control.
He said the prosecution had been served with the orders of the court on January 1, as well as on the IGP but “due to circumstances beyond our control, we are unable to produce all accused before the court this afternoon.”
He, however, assured the court that steps were being taken to ensure that the orders of the court were complied with.
Meanwhile, Mr. Adu-Gyamfi has indicated to the court that the Republic had no knowledge of an application for bail for the accused persons which was moved by their lawyer, Martin Kpebu.
Mr. Kpebu, in his response, stated that in such circumstances, the absence of the Attorney General did not negate bail as there was no provision contained in Act 30 which stated that the Attorney General ought to be served before bail was granted.
The court, presided over by His Honour Emmanuel Essandoh, after listening to the parties ordered that the suspects should be produced before the court today, January 5, 2022.
The suspects are Issahaku Barkin, Samuel Abdul Rahman, Seidu Mohammed Saani, Richard Amevor, Nantogma Kwami, Iddrisu Shaibu, Namaw Osman Nabia, Inusah Belko, Abdulai Gboo, Abdulai Nangbon Dana, Naa Tampuri and Dr. Samuel Burgri.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak