TIG Post

Tag: Court

  • Musician fined for shoplifting

    An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 30-year-old self-styled musician to a fine of GH¢2,400 for shoplifting assorted items at the Shoprite section of the West Hills Mall in Accra.

    In default, the convict, David Ike, will serve three months in prison.

    The items stolen included two pieces Cling Cracker biscuit, one cake of Medi Soft soap, two pieces of Lindor chocolate, two sets of floral tissue, underwear, two plastic bottles of water, one packet of Burger peanuts and one bag, all worth GH¢167.65

    The convict pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing and was found guilty by the court after a full trial.

    Cross-examination

    During cross-examination, although Ike had admitted picking up the items at the mall, he denied walking away with the items, arguing that he made an attempt to see the manager on duty in order to make payments for the items, but to no avail.

    He also told the court that he was an Australian who came to Ghana in 2017 and had no permanent place of abode.

    Meanwhile, Ike is expected to be put before a different court for the use of narcotic drugs.

    Judgment

    Passing sentence, the presiding judge, Ms Ruby Naa Ayitey, a High Court judge sitting with additional responsibility as a Circuit Court judge, said the evidence produced by the prosecution against the convict was overwhelming.

    She added that she had considered the fact that the stolen items had been retrieved and that their value was minimal.

    She also said another factor considered in sentencing Ike was that he was not a Ghanaian and had no place of abode, a fact that was made known to the court during cross-examination.

    Ms Ayitey also said she considered the fact that the accused person had no place of abode and had been in custody for the past two years since the trial started.

    Facts

    The facts, as presented by the prosecutor, Inspector Samuel Ahiabor, were that the complainant in the case was a security guard at West Hills Mall.

    Inspector Ahiabor said about 8 p.m. on August 12, 2018, while people were busily shopping at the mall, Ike entered the Shoprite section of the mall, picked a bag and loaded it with the assorted items.

    He said Ike concealed the items in a bag without paying for them.

    He added that while Ike walked out of the shop with the goods, the security guard called him to produce the receipt for the items in the concealed bag.

    “He could not produce any receipt and was, therefore, arrested and the items retrieved from him,” he said.

    Inspector Ahiabor added that Ike was later handed over to the police on duty at the West Hills Mall.

    Subsequent arrest

    The prosecutor said a further search conducted on Ike by the police revealed a wrapped substance suspected to be Indian hemp, adding that Ike was subsequently re-arrested, together with the exhibit, and handed over to the new Weija Police for investigation.

    In his caution statement to the police, he said, Ike admitted the offences and was charged, after which the wrapped substance was forwarded to the Police Forensic Laboratory for examination.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Court remands suspects who murdered 90-year-old ‘witch’ at Kafaba

    The Bole Magistrate Court has remanded the seven suspects involved in the killing of Madam Akua Denteh who they accused of witchcraft into Police custody and are expected to reappear in court on 18 September 2020.

    It will be recalled that Hajia Shirina Mohammed alias Hajia Filipino, aged 40, an alleged soothsayer branded the 90-year-old Madam Akua Denteh as a witch and ordered that she should be lynched.

    Hajia Filipino has been arrested and currently under interrogation at the Savannah Regional Police Headquarters in Damongo.

    She was arrested at her hideout in Yeji in the Bono East Region and brought before the Bole Magistrate Court but was remanded in Police Custody.

    She appeared in court today with the six other suspects.

    Source: Class FM

  • Israeli national, two others granted bail over gold theft

    The Circuit Court in Accra has granted bail in the sum of eight million cedis (GH¢8m) to three accused persons who have been arraigned for stealing 15kilogram (kg) of gold valued over GH¢2 million.

    The three accused persons namely Koenic Ampedu, Meiri Giora and Jonathan Quarshie Sethranah all pleaded not guilty to the offense and were granted bail.

    Koenic, 32, unemployed and first accused (A1) was granted bail in the sum of GH¢2 million with one surety. The surety the court said should be a public servant earning not less than GH¢1,500. He is on the charge of stealing.

    While Giola (A2), 71, a gold exporter and Sethranah (A3), 34, a driver who are facing a charge of dishonestly receiving have their bail sum set at GH¢3 million each with a common surety earning not less than GH¢1500.

    The court admitted them to bail after their lawyer Raphael Kofi Bnin moved a bail application for them. He told the court that his clients are not flight risk and have persons to stand sureties for them.

    The investigator in the case also informed the court that, the exhibits (gold minerals) have been retrieved from the accused persons.

    The court subsequently adjourned to September 1, 2020

    Brief facts

    Inspector Eric Pobee, the prosecutor in the case told the court that, the complainant is a businessman and lives at Tarkwa Nseuam.

    He said A1 is unemployed and an errand boy for the complainant and also lives at Tarkwa Nsueam.

    The prosecutor further told the court that A2 is an Israeli born, based in Belgium and gold exporter but currently resides in Ghana, at Bush Street at Labadi while A3 is a driver to A2 and resident at Labadi.

    The prosecutor said in the month of July 2020, a witness in this case who is a business partner to the complainant, gave the complainant 10kg of gold to be brought from Tarkwa Nsueam to Accra for sale.

    According to Inspector Pobee, the complainant added 5kg of gold and so brough a total of 15kg to Accra in the company of A1 and lodged at Adesa Royal Hotel with the gold on July 10, 2020.

    The prosecutor said on July 11, 2020, the complainant woke up from bed and could not find the 15kg of gold in his bag and his errand boy being A1 could not also be found.

    “The complainant,” the prosecutor sad “became alarmed and informed his friends who are National Security personnel to assist him arrest A1.”

    He told the court that, on August 14, 2020, the owner of the 10kg of gold arrived in Accra and contacted the complainant for his gold, but was told the gold has been stolen.

    “They then reported that matter to the police for investigation. Intelligence indicated that, on August 17, 2020, A1 and one Nana Kwame (at large), took 10kg of gold to AA Minerals and sold same to A2 and his driver A3,” Inspector Pobee told the court

    He told the court that, “personnel from National Security had information about the accused persons presence at AA Minerals and rushed to the scene where they arrested the accused persons.”

    During the arrest, suspect Nana Kwame managed to escape. A1 on interrogation admitted having stolen the gold from the complainant and asked for the assistance of Nana Kwame and one other to sell it.

    He told the court that “A2 admitted having bought the 10kg of gold from one Nana at the cost of 450,000 dollars equivalent to GHc2, 587, 500.00.

    “A3 denied knowledge of the offense but stated he has seen A1 on two occasions at AA Minerals in the month of July, 2020, but had nothing to do with him.”

    The prosecutor said “The accused persons were charged with the offenses and brough before the honourable court while effort are being made to arrest Nana Kwame for investigation.”

    Source: Starr FM

  • Court acquits and discharges 4 persons in Bole arrested for illegally possessing firearms

    The Bole Magistrate Court in the Savannah Region has acquitted and discharged all four accused persons of illegally possessing firearms and given their guns back to them.

    The court, presided over by Prince A. Cudjoe acquitted Iddisah Salifu, Abubakari Issahaku , Yaw Mahama alias Mahama Iddrisu and Haruna Waala, aka Kipo Hadi.

    The judge in his ruling said, “the accused persons have this morning produced documents covering the guns, I have received same from the police and examined them to be genuine”.

    He stated that the accused persons who were arrested for possessing fire arm without authority contrary to section 11(a) of arms and ammunition Act 1972NRCD.9 are not guilty of any offence

    “It is not borne by the record that they used or were using the gun to commit any crime. I shall therefore limits myself to the charge. But briefly, I shall state that the activities of neighborhood watch committee is not foreign in and around Gonja lands. We came to meet same and it has come to stay with us.”

    “One can engage their services to escort him to wherever one wishes especially when one is carrying along monies and other valuables for fear of being attacked by armed robbers. These are bare facts the court can take judicial notice of,” His Lordship emphasized.

    The accused four who were escorting two truckload of some prospective registrants to Kojokura, a suburb of West Gonja Municipality to register, were arrested on 20th July by a military patrol team and handed over to Police.https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

    He added, “The accused persons are section of such group and they were arrested in possession of fire arm without authority and now that they have produced documents covering the guns.

    “In my candid view, no crime has been committed. I hereby acquit and discharge all the accused persons. Their respective guns are to be released to their owners.”

    Meanwhile, two of the accused, Yaw Mahama and Haruna Waala who had escaped from the scene leaving their arms behind, are also beneficiaries of the ruling.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Businessman in court for theft

    A Circuit Court in Accra has remanded into Police custody a 41-year-old businessman for allegedly stealing and selling two trucks belonging to his business partner.

    The two trucks are estimated to cost about GH¢421,000.00

    He pleaded not guilty to the two counts of stealing and he is expected to reappear before the Court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh on August 27, 2020.

    Prosecutor, Chief Inspector William Boateng said, the complainant is Abena Sama Darko, Director of Green Panda Company Limited.

    Chief Inspector Boateng said the complainant is a partner to one Dr. Ohene Aboagye and one Anil Chopra, both are based in Norway and the United Kingdom respectively.

    Prosecutor said the accused resides at Sapieman in Accra and that in the year 2012, Anil Chopra, also a witness in the case, met the accused and they then became friends.

    He said Mr Chopra had been sending money to the accused to buy and export yam to Europe.

    Prosecutor said through that, Chopra bought two trucks – Scania 470 with registration number GM 331-14 and Mercedes Benz Atego also with registration number GN 8954- 14, belonging to Panda Company Limited Ghana.

    The prosecutor said the accused was supposed to use the vehicles to transport the yams from the places of purchase to Tema Harbour.

    Same year (2012), the accused bolted with the two trucks and the matter reported to the Police but the accused was only arrested this year at Nkwanta in the Oti Region, the prosecutor said.

    He said during interrogation, the accused admitted the offence, saying he sold the Mercedes Benz truck for his gains, while the other truck was used in securing a loan.

    Prosecutor has said efforts were underway to retrieve the two trucks.

    Source: GNA

  • Ejisu SHTS student jailed for a day over theft, abusive assistant headmaster granted bail

    The Juabeng Circuit court has sentenced a student of Ejisu Secondary Technical High School to a day in prison. Guggisberg Asameti pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a stabiliser belonging to the school.

    Guggisberg is one of two students locked up overnight in the office of the assistant headmaster of the school a week ago.

    He is to also pay a fine of GHS1,200 and sign a bond of good behavior for 12 months.

    Meanwhile, the Assistant headmaster who locked the students in his office and allegedly slapped them in turns has been granted a GHS5,000 bail with one surety.

    Appiah Albert Kofi faces charges of assault, unlawful imprisonment and abetement to commit crime, to wit attempted suicide.

    He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    Background

    Mr Appiah was earlier asked to step aside from official duties ahead of processes being initiated by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to haul him before a disciplinary committee.

    The Assistant Headmaster had indicated the two students were in possession of a bag containing a stabiliser, suspected to have been stolen. A taxi driver handed them over to authorities, as they reportedly tried to scale the school fence wall.

    They were stripped half-naked and locked up by the assistant headmaster overnight where the student who attempted suicide drank liquid soap, leading to his hospitalisation.

    He was arrested and held in cells over what police describe as an illegal and condemnable act.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Court issues arrest warrant for 2 hotel managers

    A magistrate court in Tamale, in the Northern Region, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of two hotel managers in the metropolis.

    The two managers (names withheld) of Mole Guest House and Galaxy Guest House, failed to appear before the court presided by Amadu Issifu.

    The two are among ten hotel operators in the Tamale metropolis, standing trial for stealing electricity.

    The hotel owners allegedly stole power up to the tune of GH¢50,000.

    The Deputy Director of Public Affair Directorate of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), Mr Alhassan Abaaba, revealed that three hotels stole 50,000 worth of power.

    He named the three as Mole Guest House that stole electricity worth GH¢15,000, Baobab Guest House GH¢11,000 and Galaxy Guest House GH¢25,000.

    Mr Abaaba lamented that the rate at which customers steal electricity in the region was alarming and that if nothing was done to halt it, could affect power supply in the region.

    He said that NEDCo would adopt legal means to recover the stolen money from customers, adding, “We will pursue the court case to its logical conclusion.”

    Mr Abaaba admonished all those engaged in power theft to desist from the practice and asked the public to assist NEDCo fight illegal connections in the region.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Court remands student over alleged murder of colleague

    A 22-year-old student, Enoch Agyemang has been remanded into prison custody for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Agnes Amoah at Ekon, a suburb of Cape Coast in the Central Region.

    The Cape Coast District Court presided over by Mrs Gloria Bonsu, did not take the plea of the accused who is a third year student of the Sammo Senior High School in Cape Coast.

    He will be reappear on Tuesday, July 28.

    Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Daniel Gadza told the court that last Wednesday July 15, the accused left the premises of his school without permission to visit the deceased in her house and left around 1900 hours.

    He said 0n Thursday, the police had information that a lifeless body has been found at Ekon and proceeded to the scene and later identified the deceased as Ms Ampah.

    According to ASP Gadza the police found the body in a pool of blood and on examination saw bruises on her forehead and the left side of her ribs.

    He said a statement written by the accused indicated that the deceased asked for GHS 50.00 from him to travel but he could not give it to her and this resulted in a heated argument.

    The prosecution said during the scuffle the deceased pulled out a pocket knife in an attempt to stab the accused and in trying to defend himself, he took the knife from her and stabbed her twice on her left rib and forehead.

    The Prosecution said the accused then surrendered himself to the police on Friday July 16 and was arrested for investigation while the body of the deceased was deposited at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital for preservation and autopsy.

    Source: GNA

  • Man appears in court for building without permit

    The Nkawie Circuit Court has granted GH¢100,000.00 bail with two sureties, to a resident of Sepaase in the Atwima-Nwabigya South Municipality for building without a permit.

    Emmanuel Addai was also charged with flouting the orders of the Municipal Assembly to stop work.

    He pleaded guilty to the charge of building without permit and not guilty to flouting the orders of the Atwima-Nwabiagya South Municipal assembly and will reappear before the court on July 29, this year.

    Prosecuting, Mr Robert Forson, the Municipal Environmental Health Officer told the court presided by Mr Johnson Abbey that the building sited was at Sepaase.

    He said on June 02 this year, officials from the Environmental Health Department of the assembly met the accused, owner of a storey building at an unapproved place at Sepaase and ordered him to stop.

    He said he was also ordered to produce all the necessary documents on the building to the Department of the assembly for inspection and verification but he refused and continued with building.

    Mr Forson said the Department had no other option but to put him before the court to answer for his behavior.

    Source: GNA

  • Court remands student over alleged murder of colleague

    A 22 year old student, Enoch Agyemang has been remanded into prison custody for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Agnes Amoah at Ekon, a suburb of Cape Coast in the Central Region.

    The Cape Coast District Court presided over by Mrs. Gloria Bonsu, did not take the plea of the accused who is a third year student of the Sammo Senior High School in Cape Coast.

    He will be reappear on Tuesday, July 28.

    Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Daniel Gadza told the court that last Wednesday July 15, the accused left the premises of his school without permission to visit the deceased in her house and left around 1900 hours.

    He said 0n Thursday, the police had information that a lifeless body has been found at Ekon and proceeded to the scene and later identified the deceased as Ms Ampah.

    According to ASP Gadza the police found the body in a pool of blood and on examination saw bruises on her forehead and the left side of her ribs.

    He said a statement written by the accused indicated that the deceased asked for GHC 50.00 from him to travel but he could not give it to her and this resulted in a heated argument.

    The prosecution said during the scuffle the deceased pulled out a pocket knife in an attempt to stab the accused and in trying to defend himself, he took the knife from her and stabbed her twice on her left rib and forehead.

    The Prosecution said the accused then surrendered himself to the police on Friday July 16 and was arrested for investigation while the body of the deceased was deposited at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital for preservation and autopsy.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Court charges 23-year-old KNUST dropout with murder

    A student who dropped out of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Emmanuel Awuah has been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

    The suspect is reported to have committed the crime after the victim a cab driver Thomas Kwame Danso was unable to repay him a 1,200 cedi debt.

    The charge was handed down by a district court in Mampongteng in the Kwabere Municipality of the Ashanti Region

    The judge His Worship Thomas Boadi Soyori remanded him into custody to reappear in court on August 3, 2020.

    A Bench warrant was also issued for the arrest of the accomplice of the accused, who is at large.

    Meanwhile, the KNUST has issued a statement disowning Emmanuel Awuah insisting that students are deemed to have abandoned their course of study if they were absent for a whole academic year without notice of deferment.

    The statement indicates that the accused did not register for the 2018 2019 academic year as well as the 2019-2020 academic years which were suppose to be his third and final years respectively.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Court to rule on Ashaiman MPs suit against EC on July 21

    The Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court has fixed July 21, 2020 decide on whether or not to compel the Electoral Commission (EC) to provide Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey, with some procurement information.

    The MP for Ashaiman, Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey in March 2020, filed a suit in court to compel the EC to furnish him with some procurement information on the new Biometric Management System (BVMS).

    When the case was called and the lawyers had announced themselves, the court presided over by Justice Gifty Adjei Addo said, her court will rule on the application on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.

    The plaintiff in his suit comes after the EC had refused to furnish him with the information stating that “an applicant seeking to access information under this Act [Right to Information] shall pay the fee or charge approved by Parliament in accordance with the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 (Act 793).”

    It was the case of the Commission, fees and charges applicable for the said information are yet to be determined in accordance with the law hence the reason such information cannot be given out.

    Mr Norgbey in the suit is seeking a declaration that the “refusal, failure or neglect” of the EC to furnish him with the information on the BVMS, violates his rights under Article 21 of the 1992 Constitution which guarantees the right to information.

    The lawmaker also wants to know the processes the EC adopted prior to contracting the services of Dr Ofori-Adjei, IT Consultant and Mr A. Akrofi, Procurement Consultant; and whether the said procurements were done in accordance with Part 6 of the Public Procurement Act among others.

    Mr Norgbey is also demanding “a copy of the award letter from the EC to Thales DIS in respect of the contract for the acquisition of hardware component of the new voter management system.”

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Mechanic in court for attacking SDA Elder

    Daniel Faglah, 56, a mechanic, has appeared before a Dodowa District Court, chaired by Gloria Naa Bator-Laryea for assaulting an Elder of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church.

    Faglah, who was charged with assault, pleaded not guilty and was admitted to a GHC 5,000 bail.

    Chief Inspector of Police Peter Agbelie narrating the facts of the case, told the court that the complainant, Elder Benjamin Teye is with the New Abirem SDA Church and also a farmer.

    He said the complainant resides at Agomeda, while the accused person lives at Ayikuma Amanfro, both in the Sona District of Tema Municipal Area of the Greater Accra Region.

    Chief Inspector Agbelie said Elder Teye and Agbelie has a long standing dispute over a parcel of land situated at Gbogblodzi near Ayikuma and on January 11, Elder Teye and two others who are witnesses in the case, went to the land with a surveying machine to note the extent of the land, when Faglah emerged and confronted them.

    He said a misunderstanding ensued between them and Faglah seized the machine and assaulted the complainant.

    Chief Inspector Agbelie said a report was made to the Ayikuma Police and a police medical form was issued to the complainant for hospital attention.

    Source: GNA

  • Teenager gets five years in jail for causing harm

    The Nkawie circuit court has sentenced an 18-year-old unemployed man, who attacked and stabbed a community police assistant at Toase in the Atwima-Nwabiagya South Municipality, to five years in prison.

    Ernest Dwamena pleaded guilty for stabbing the officer, who was stationed at the Nkawie Division of the Ghana Police Service, in the ribs at a public toilet without any provocation.

    He was sentenced on his own plea.

    Detective Inspector Anthony Acheampong told the court presided over by Mr Johnson Abbey that the incident occurred on June 1, 2019.

    He said the convict, together with an accomplice, who is still at large, attacked the victim with a kitchen knife until he fell unconscious.

    Inspector Acheampong said the victim was rescued by a group of students and rushed to the Nkawie government hospital but was transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for Emergency treatment.

    The prosecution said the convict was arrested on June 28, 2020 and admitted the offence in his caution statement.

     

    Source: GNA

  • RE: Allegation of non-disclosure of assets against supreme court judges

    Lawyers for Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu, have denied allegations of their client not declaring his assets by the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA).

    A petition from ASEPA to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice called for an investigation of some Supreme Court judges for failing to declare their assets and liabilities.

    GhanaWeb republished an article by classfmonline.com on the petition which listed Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu as one of the defaulting judges.

    But lawyers for the Supreme Court judge in a reaction to the CHRAJ, have provided proof of their client’s compliance with article 286 of the 1992 constitution.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Man in court for threatening cut neighbour into pieces for snatching his girlfriend

    A 30-year-old man who threatened to cut his neighbour into pieces for allegedly snatching his girlfriend has been granted ¢10,000 bail with two sureties by a circuit court in Cape Coast.

    Kobina Aggrey pleaded not guilty to the threat of death and the court, presided over by Abena Buansi Amponsah, adjourned the case to Thursday, July 9.

    Giving the facts of the case, the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Iddrisu Yakubo, said the complainant, Smith George, a health worker, had information suggesting that Aggrey was accusing him in the neighbourhood of snatching his girlfriend.

    Unhappy with it, George on Friday, April 10, went to the accused to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the issue.

    On seeing George in his house, Aggrey pointed a cutlass at him without any provocation and dared the complainant to joke with him or have his body cut into pieces.

    Chief Inspector Yakubo said it took the intervention of an eye witness to bring the situation under control.

    He said George felt threatened thus reported the matter to the police.

     

     

  • More court buildings coming Chief Justice assures

    His Lordship Justice Akwasi Anin-Yeboah has given an assurance that more court buildings will be constructed during his tenure as Chief Justice (CJ).

    According to him, he has carefully analyzed and realized that the number of courts in the country is not enough to promote the justice delivery system.

    In this regard, the CJ has said he has made it his personal policy to ensure that more modern court buildings are constructed to boost justice delivery.

    According to him, the justice delivery system in the country will experience massive transformation when more court buildings are built in the various districts.

    Justice Anin-Yeboah made the announcement when he cut the tape to open a modern court complex faculty at Akropong in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District.

    The traditional leaders at Akropong provided the land, and the Atwima Nwabiagya North District Assembly offered some support to put up the court building.

    He lauded the Akropong chiefs and the district assembly for a good job done and entreated other chiefs and assemblies to learn from them.

    “Our revered chiefs should provide lands for court buildings, and the various assemblies should also offer logistical support,” the CJ said.

    He stated that “access to justice delivery is key to help maintain law and order and also accelerate national development, so we need more courts.”

    Justice Anin-Yeboah said he was thrilled with the imposing court building at Akropong, giving an assurance that the court would be upgraded to a circuit court soon.

    The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, on his part, admonished the managers and users of the new court to take good care of it, so it would last long.

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Benito Owusu-Bio, in his succinct remarks, said government was committed to promoting justice for all, thereby leading to national growth.

    The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atwima Nwabiagya North, Rebecca Yeboah, stated that bringing justice delivery on the doorstep of the ordinary Ghanaian was key to development.

    Nana Sarfo Kantanka, Chief of Akropong; Nana Amoapim Brenya I, Chief of Barekese; and Kaleem Abdallah, the Atwima Nwabiagya North District Coordinating Director, were there.

     

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Court remands cargo agent over dud cheques

    The Kaneshie District Court has remanded into police custody a 50-year-old cargo agent who lodged at a hotel from January 11, to May 21, and later issued dud cheques to cover his bills.

    Michael A. Gyasi denied issuing the two dud cheques of the Access Bank.

    He will be brought back to the Court on June 24.

    Police Inspector John Baidoo told the Court presided over by Rosemond Dodoa Agyiri that Mr Kofi Agyare, a receptionist of the AMPAQX Grand Hotel is the complainant.

    He said the accused, a cargo agent at the Tema Harbour on January 11 this year, went and lodged at the hotel located at Asylum Down in Accra.

    Inspector Baidoo said the daily charge was ¢150 and his bill accrued to ¢19,000 as at May 21.

    He said Gyasi then paid ¢8,350 and afterwards issued two separate cheques of ¢1,700 and ¢2,000 for the outstanding balance but the cheques were dishonoured when presented at the bank.

    The Prosecution said this led to his arrest and after he was cautioned, he was arraigned.

    Source: GNA  

  • Nigerian woman in court for impersonating ministers

    A Nigerian woman has been put before an Accra Circuit Court for impersonating some Ministers of State to defraud prospective job seekers on social media.

    Vivian Sajida Imran, a 31-year-old trader and her husband, Prince Joel, are alleged to have created multiple fake accounts on Facebook in the names of Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information; Shirley Ayorko Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Henry Quartey, Deputy Minister of National Security.

    According to court documents, the two succeeded in defrauding many victims to the tune of GH¢10,277 under the pretext of securing jobs for them at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Ghana Gas Company, and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

    They then requested their victims to pay various sums of money through Mobile Money for application forms and interviews.

    Vivian Sajida was arrested at Jericho at Ashaiman after the ministers had been made aware of her criminal acts and informed the National Security.

    Her husband managed to escape arrest and is still at large.

    The two are facing one count of pretending to be public officers and seven counts of defrauding by false pretences.

    She pleaded not guilty, and the court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Essandoh, a High Court judge sitting with additional responsibility as a Circuit Court judge, granted her a bail of GH¢12,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be a public servant earning not less than GH¢1,500 a month.

    The prosecutor, Detective Frederick Sarpong, presenting the facts said the accused persons used the names and photographs of the ministers to create Facebook accounts and posed as them.

    He told the court that the accused persons in their calls and chats with their victims promised to secure jobs for them at TOR, Ghana Gas Company, and COCOBOD.

    They then convinced their victims to pay various amounts of money totalling GH¢10,277 through Mobile Money for applications forms and interviews.

    The court heard that the monies were paid into MTN numbers 0242774965 and 0551047196 and later transferred another Mobile Money account number 0248024471.

    Detective Sarpong stated that the ministers who later had information about the activities of the accused persons reported the matter to the National Security.

    He said the accused were tracked to their house at Jericho where Vivian Sajida was arrested, but Prince Joel managed to escape.

    He said a search conducted in their room revealed six mobile phones, including the three mobile money numbers used to receive the monies from their victims.

    The prosecutor added that a forensic on the phones revealed that one of them had the number 0248024471 which was registered in the name of Vivian Sajida Imran and was the number through which the money obtained from the victims were transferred and later withdrawn.

    Source: Daily Guide Network

  • Driver remanded for stealing mobile phone

    A 33-year-old driver who stole a mobile phone at Atwima-Mim has been remanded into prison custody by the Nkawie Circuit Court.

    Iddrisu Yahya, who is said to have two stealing cases already pending before the same court, pleaded not guilty and would reappear before the court on June 17, this year for trial.

    Detective Chief Inspector Comfort Amankwaa told the court presided by Mr Johnson Abbey that, the complainant is a shopkeeper at Mim, while the suspect was a driver at Nerebehi in the Atwima-Nwabiagya South Municipality.

    She said on May 05, this year at about 1700, the suspect borrowed the phone from the complainant to make a call.

    The prosecution said he however bolted with the phone until May 08, this year when he was arrested from his hideout at Nerebehi by the Nkawie Police.

    Chief Inspector Amankwaa said during interrogation the suspect admitted the offence and he was charged and brought before the court.

    Source: GNA

  • La Stool loses case over 49,000 acre land to Lakeside Estate

    The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the La Stool and three others against Agric Cattle and Lakeside Estate over some 49,420.53 acres of land situated at La Tsui Anaa.

    The La Stool wanted possession of the land which was declared the rightful possession of Agric Cattle and Lakeside Estate by the Court of Appeal.

    In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, dismissed the appeal on the basis that the original suit at the High Court, which culminated in the appeal, was a nullity because it was initiated by the La Traditional Council which had no capacity.

    Nullity

    It was the decision of the apex court that although the plaintiffs took steps to amend the writ and replaced the La Traditional Council with the La Stool, the fact that La Traditional Council had no capacity to sue rendered the entire legal action from the High Court to the Court of Appeal a nullity.

     

    “When did Traditional Councils become owners of stool lands? The La Traditional had no capacity to sue.

    Writ

    Now since the original writ was a nullity, all the subsequent amendments taken in the writ were also a nullity.The writ was the foundation upon which the entire action was built, thus when it is nullified, the super-structure of the action, which are the proceedings and the judgements founded on the invalid writ, must totally collapse,” the apex court ruled.

    The decision was written by Justice Samuel Marful-Sau. The other members on the panel were Justices Yaw Appau, Gabriel Pwamang and Professor Nii Ashie Kotey.

    Background

    On May 16, 2008, the La Traditional Council filed a suit at the Accra High Court claiming possession of the 49,420.53 acres of land which had been acquired by Agric Cattle and Lakeside Estate Limited.

    In January 2009, lawyers for the plaintiff amended the writ and replaced La Traditional Council with the La Divisional Council.

    The writ went through several amendments and at the end the plaintiffs had become Nii Obodai IV, La Mankralo, on behalf of the La Stool, SFA Limited and Fodas Estates Limited.

    The defendants were Agric Cattle, Santeo Mantse (Atta Quarshie), Kantamanso Mantse (Nii Otoo Laryea), Nungua Mantse (Nii Odaifio Welentsi II) and Lakeside Estate Limited.

    Decisions

    In its judgement, the High Court declared 2,911.53 acres of the disputed land as the rightful possession of the defendants and the remaining 46,509 acres as the rightful possession of the La Stool.

    Dissatisfied, the defendants filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal.

    On March 28, 2018, the Court of Appeal upheld the appeal and reversed the decision of the High Court, declaring the whole land for the defendants.

    It was that appeal that was also appealed at the Supreme Court by the La Stool and the other plaintiffs.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • Two remanded for possessing narcotic drugs

    The Assin-Fosu District Court has remanded into police custody two persons arrested at Nduaso in the Assin North District for possessing some dried leaves suspected to be (wee) cannabis.

    The suspects, Edward Asante alias Agya Amadu, 47 and Razack Ibrahim, 32, whose pleas were not taken will re-appear in court on Wednesday, May 27.

    Prosecuting, Inspector Gilbert Ayongo, told the Court presided over by Mr. Abdul Majeed Illiasu that the suspects were arrested by the Assin Fosu Divisional Police Patrol Team upon a tip-off.

    The police immediately moved to the community and arrested them after quantities of compressed dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, scissors and a knife were found in their room.

     

    Source: GNA 

  • 3 remanded for posing as Forestry Commission officials, duping people

    The Amasaman Circuit Court has remanded three suspects for duping hundreds of people of varied amount of money under the pretext of securing them employment with the Forestry Commission.

    The suspects, Prince Adams Senahia, aged 20; Olongo Philip aged 19 and a 17-year-old minor; were posing as officers of the commission using the name of the Executive Director for Forest Services Division, Oppong Sasu to dupe people.

    Some of the victims reported the issue to the Achimota police leading to the arrest of the suspects.

    The three were charged with impersonation and defrauding by false pretense and were subsequently arraigned before court.

    His Lordship Marful Sau after taking the plea of the suspects remanded them for investigations to continue.

    The court later adjourned the case to May 23, 2020.

    Speaking to Adom News after the court proceeding, the Corporate Affairs and Media Relations Manager of the Forestry Commission, Joyce Ofori Kwafo warned the public to disregard people who pose as middlemen to secure employment for them.

    According to her, the commission does not also use individuals to recruit people for employment.

     

    Source: Adom News

  • Consider online adjudication in the midst of COVID-19 Judge

    Professor Justice Sir Dennis Adjei, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, has suggested that the Judicial Service considers authorising the conduct of some trials through electronic platforms and internet-based applications as a stop-gap measure to the fight of Covid-19.

    Professor Justice Sir Dennis Adjei made the call when he delivered via Zoom, the maiden lecture of the 14-week long Law and Ethics Web Series, on the theme: “Covid-19, Legal Practice and its implications for Judicial Decision Making”.

    The lecture is being jointly organised by the African Centre on Law and Ethics (ACLE) and the African Centre of International Criminal Justice (ACICJ), both based at the GIMPA Faculty of Law.

    Prof Justice Sir Adjei said, “Doctors are working, Engineers are working, Lecturers are teaching online, so Judges too must deliver and the Courts must work.”

    “In the phase of Covid-19, every institution must work but we must observe physical distancing and where you can use internet facility to achieve the purpose of your work, you must use it.”

    The Justice of the Court of Appeal said there were few laws on the statute books of Ghana that would have to be amended to accommodate his suggestion of online adjudication of court cases.

    “We should look at Order 33 of CI 47, which requires the Court to provide for a place of trial. It could be amended to include any other electronic mode that the Court may determine and not a physical place as in the courtroom,” he indicated.

    “Order 36 of the High Court civil procedure rules, CI 47, which requires parties to attend a trial in person and failure of which attracts sanctions could also be amended to make video link or any other digital means to amount to physical appearance”.

    The Law and Ethics Web Series is expected to be held every Wednesday at 1400 hours, which began May 6, this year, on the online meeting platform; Zoom.

    There are pending presentations on May 13, May 20, May 27, June 3, June 10, June 17, June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, and August 5, which will come on as scheduled.

    Various speakers have been lined up for the series.

    It is being coordinated by Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, a Lecturer and Head of Law Centre at the GIMPA Faculty of Law.

    The maiden session was moderated by Ms Diana Asonaba Dapaah, also a Lecturer at the GIMPA Faculty of Law, under the distinguished patronage of the Rector of GIMPA, Professor Philip Ebow Bondzi-Simpson.

    Source: GNA

  • Security officer who inflicted grievous bodily harm on wife remanded

    A Wa Magistrate Court, presided over by Justice Sydney Braimah, has remanded the private security personnel who inflicted multiple cut wounds to his wife at Konta in the Upper West Regional capital Wa.

    35-year-old Vitus Sungsolee Kundeyiri was remanded in prison custody charged with attempted murder.

     

    The court was told that Vitus Sungsolee Kundeyiri on April 29, allegedly attacked his 30-year-old wife Amanda Abawuro Basinbo with a pick axe, hitting her several times on the forehead, leaving her with deep cuts and injuring her skull.

    The incident is believed to have occurred after a prolonged misunderstanding between the couple who have been married for the last 13 years, with one child.

    Kundeyiri Vitus Sungsolee

    The suspect, according to the police prosecutor, Ali Katebor, fled the scene of the crime after his 10-year-old son drew the attention of neighbours to the incident and also reported same to his maternal aunt through a phone call.

    Briefing the media on the incident, the Upper West Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Inspector Gideon Boateng, stated that a sister of the victim reported the incident to the police after receiving a phone call from the boy.

    He indicated that the police visited the victim who had been rushed to the Wa Municipal Hospital at the time to ascertain the level of injury and subsequently launched a manhunt for the perpetrator.

    Inspector Boateng said Mr Kundeyiri was arrested on Monday and processed for court on Wednesday where he has been remanded into prison custody to reappear on May 20, 2020.

    Meanwhile, the victim who was transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on Saturday is responding to treatment.

    Amanda Abawuro Basinbo
    Amanda Abawuro Basinbo

    By Yakubu Abdul-Gafur | 3news.com

  • After two years on remand, two men regain freedom

    Two men accused of robbing three residents at Akporman in the Ga East District of the Greater Accra region in 2018 have been acquitted and discharged by the Accra Circuit Court.

    Samuel Plange, alias Tugah and Issah Alhassan spent two years on remand but were set free Wednesday after the court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish prima facie against them.

    The court, presided over by Ms Afia Owusuaa Appiah, held that the prosecution was unable to establish that it was actually the two accused persons who committed the robbery.

    No case
    During the trial, the prosecution called the investigator as the only witness to prove its case. This was due to the fact that the complainants who claim the accused persons robbed them failed to testify because they had moved out of the country.

    After the prosecution had closed its case, counsel for the accused persons, Mr Andrew Vortia, filed a submission of no case against the prosecution.

    He argued that the testimony of the investigator was riddled with inconsistencies and also the prosecution failed to present any evidence linking his clients to the robbery.

    In its ruling, the court upheld the submission of no case filed by counsel.

    “Prosecution failed to fulfill the fundamental ingredient of ascertaining the identity of the accused as those who committed the robbery.

    “No prima facie case has been established against the accused persons. They are therefore, acquitted and discharged per Section 173 of the Criminal and other Offences (Procedure Act), 1960 (Act 30).”

    Section 173 of Act 30 stipulates that “Where at the close of the evidence in support of the charge, it appears to the Court that a case is not made out against the accused sufficiently to require the accused to make a defence, the Court shall, as to that particular charge, acquit the accused.”

    Advice
    After acquitting the two accused persons, the presiding judge advised them to be careful with the sort of friends they mingled with.

    According to her, failure of the material witnesses to testify made it difficult for the prosecution to prove its case, and, therefore, they should be careful in life and never do anything that would make them suspects of a crime.

    “You have your years ahead of you, utilize it well. Just be very careful with your associations,” she said.

    Jubilations
    Family members of the Plange and Alhassan broke into wild jubilation when their beloved were set free by the court.

    Ignoring social distancing protocols, they hugged lawyer Vortia and the two discharged persons when they came out of the courtroom.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh 

  • 28 persons fined GHS5,000 each for attempting to travel outside Accra during lockdown

    The Adentan Circuit Court has granted bail to 28 out of 32 persons accused of breaching the Imposition of Restrictions Act.

    These persons were on board two commercial buses travelling from Accra to Dambai in the Oti Region.

    The court imposed a bail condition of a sum of GH¢5,000 and two sureties on each of the 28 people who pleaded not guilty.

    According to a Police statement, one of the remaining four out of the 32 accused persons who pleaded guilty was fined an amount of GHS12,000.

    Two others had their final judgement deferred and the fourth person was discharged on health grounds.

    Below is the Police statement:

    Status of Case Involving Suspects Arrested at Adenta-Dodowa COVID 19 Snap Check Point on 16th April, 2020

    On Thursday 16th April, 2020 at about 02 am, security personnel stationed at Adenta-Dodowa snap checkpoint arrested 43 passengers including children on board two commercial buses travelling from Accra to Dambai in the Oti Region.

    The two vehicles were impounded and all 32 adults including the drivers were arraigned at the Adenta Circuit Court on 16th and 17th April, 2020 for breaching the Imposition on Restrictions law.

    The Court ordered for testing of all the accused persons, leading to their samples having been taken by the Adenta Municipal COVID-19 Response Team.

    In all, 28 accused persons pleaded not guilty and were granted bail to the sums of GHS5,000 with two sureties each. Three who pleaded guilty were convicted on their own plea and one of them was fined an amount of GHS12,000 while sentencing for the two other convicts was deferred.

    The last accused, aged 20 years was discharged by the court to enable her cater for her six months old baby who was seriously sick and had earlier in the day been sent to the Frafraha Community Health Centre for treatment.

     

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in courts still hold Chief Justice

    The Chief Justice, Justice Anim Yeboah, has reiterated that the measures adopted to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in the courts across the country are still holding despite the lifting of the partial lockdown in selected parts of the country.

    He said the measures were aimed at decongesting the courts in order to observe the advised social distancing protocols.

    A release issued to the Ghana News Agency said the arrangements outlined in previous statements issued on March 16 and 20, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the courts across the country would continue.

    It said the courts would practice strict case management techniques such that only parties and witnesses in cases listed to be heard on particular dates and fixed times would be allowed into the court room to avoid large gatherings.

    It asked judges and magistrates to adjourn cases to specific times on given dates, to limit the number of people that would be allowed into the court room, hear cases which were extreme urgency, and as far as possible exercised great restraint in remanding accused persons, in order to avoid overcrowding in the prisons and police cells.

    The release said cause lists should also be reduced drastically for few cases to be listed for hearing.

    It said judges and magistrates should also dispense with the appearance of convicted and remand prisoners where possible; and in criminal appeals, the courts where possible, should dispense with the appearance of appellants who are in prison custody.

     

    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • Mason jailed 20 years for defiling 13-year-old stepdaughter

    The Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a mason who defiled his 13-year-old stepdaughter and impregnated her in the process to 20 years imprisonment in hard labour.

    Eric Kofitse today pleaded guilty to defilement and was sentenced on his own plea by the court, presided over by Mrs Christiana Cann.

    A test conducted on the girl revealed that she was 7 weeks pregnant.

    Defilement

    Per the facts presented by the prosecutor Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire, Kofitse had defiled his stepdaughter on numerous occasions since 2019.

    The girl could not stand the ordeal any longer so she reported it to her mother.

    According to the prosecution, the mother promised to talk to her husband to stop, but Kofitse still continued to defile the girl.

    The mother then decided to send the girl to go and live with her sister. The girl, however, could not live with her Auntie so she came back to her mother.

    Kofitse then continued to defile the girl when she returned to the house.

    The prosecution added that the girl ran to her biological father because she could not stand the persistent sexual attacks from her stepfather.

    The father lodged a complaint with the police after the girl informed him of the sexual attacks she had suffered at the hands of Kofitse.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Man jailed 20 years for defiling 13-year-old stepdaughter

    The Circuit Court in Accra presided over by Her Honour Mrs Christiana Cann has sentenced a mason to 20 years in prison in hard labour for defining his 13-year-old stepdaughter.

    Eric Kofitse pleaded guilty for defilement and was convicted on his own plea by the Gender-based Circuit Court.

    Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire, the prosecutor in the case while presenting the brief facts to the court said the complainant is a driver, while the accused is a mason.

    According to him, the complainant is a driver who lives at Dansoman whilst the accused is a mason and lives at Christian village near Achimota.

    Chief Insp. Atimbire said the girl (victim) is 13 years old and class four pupil.

    The prosecutor told the court that, the girl lives with the mother and the accused person who is the stepfather.

    He said since 2019, the accused person started having sex with the victim anytime the mother left home to trade. The accused persons he said “then threatened her not to tell anyone about it else, he will stab her to death in the night when she was asleep.

    According to the prosecutor, “Initially, the girl could not tell anyone for fear of being killed by the accused person.

    “When this continued for some time, she managed to inform the mother on three occasions but she (mother) told the daughter she will talk to the husband to stop.

    He told the court that, during the early part of March 2020, the accused again had sex with the victim who reported it again to the mother.

    “The mother got worried and sent the girl (victim) to her cousin in Nsawam. The victim who could not stand the persistent sexual attacks from her stepfather had to run to her biological father at Dansoman.

    “The victim later fell sick while st with her father and was taken to the hospital where medical examination on 17 April 2020 prove she was seven weeks pregnant.”

    It was then she told the father what she went through while she was staying with her mother. A complaint was lodged at the Achimota police station and accused was arrested.

    The accused admitted the offence and his caution statements were taken. He was charged and put before the court.

     

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • La Nkwantang-Madina Municipal Assembly donates furniture to Courts

    The La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly has donated two sets of furniture to the Madina Courts 1 & 2 to address the furniture deficit of the court.

    Each of the two courts received a set of furniture comprising a three in one, two in one and single furniture.

    Madam Jennifer Dede Afagbedzi, the Municipal Chief Executive, with the help of Mr Kwaku Asiedu, the Municipal Coordinating Director, who donated the items on behalf of the Assembly said the gesture formed part of the steps taken by the Assembly to help address the challenges the court encountered.

    She learned of the challenge after the Estate Officer of the Assembly paid a visit to the Court premises.

    Having done the overall estimate of the fittings and furniture, she said, the Assembly would tackle them one after the other to a logical conclusion.

    Receiving the items on behalf of both courts, Maame Efua Tordimah, thanked the Assembly for the gesture.

    However, she called on other benevolent individuals and organisations to help the Court to paint its facility, fix its non-functioning air conditioning, and window panes, which were in bad state.

    She appealed to the Assembly to connect water to the Water Closet it had donated to them earlier to enable the court to utilise it.

    Source: GNA

  • Court of Appeal acquits former NCA Board Member

    The Court of Appeal has unanimously acquitted and discharged Dr. Nana Owusu Ensaw, the third accused person who was being held with four others in connection with the four million dollar Pegasus machine purchased by the National Communication Authority (NCA).

    Nana Ensaw a former NCA board member went to the Court of Appeal (CA) to challenge the ruling of the High Court, which directed him and four others to open their defence in the four million dollar Pegasus machine trial.

    He was to open his defence in respect of two charges out of the six namely conspiracy to steal and stealing.

    The three member panel of the Court of Appeal presided over by Mr Justice Victor Ofoe noted that from the face of the records before them, the High Court did not establish a prima facie case against Nana Ensaw and the High Court misapplied the law, when it ruled that he should open his defence.

    “The criminal appeal succeeds and the order of the High Court directed to you to open your defence in respect of the Count three and 14 is here by dismissed,” it ruled.

    Meanwhile, the High Court presided over by Mr Justice Eric Kyei Baffour has fixed May 12 this year to deliver its judgement in respect of the substantive trial.

    The other accused persons in the substantive trial are: Eugene Baffour Bonnie, former Board Chairman of NCA, William Tetteh Tevie, former Director General of NCA, Alhaji Mimina Osman, a former Deputy National Security Coordinator and George Derick Oppong, a businessman and Director of Infraloc Development Limited.

    The accused persons have variously been charged with stealing, using public office for public gain, willfully causing financial loss to the state in respect of the purchase of the cybersecurity equipment worth four million dollars in the year 2016.

    They have denied the charges and are currently on bail.

    Source: GNA

  • Adjourn court cases to May CJ directs judges as coronavirus cases surge in Ghana

    Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah has issued new directives to all judges and magistrates in the country to grant long adjournments in court cases not requiring immediate resolution as coronavirus cases in Ghana surge in the last 24 hours.

    Consequent to that, lawyers with cases in court have been asked to go to court on their due dates without their clients, and request for the case to be adjourned to specific dates in May, June and July.

    “Alternatively, lawyers on both sides of a case may agree together to adjourn the matter to a specific date to be communicated to the Registrar in writing, thus avoiding the need to travel to the Court for that purpose,” a statement issued by the chief justice advised.

    Judges and magistrates have further been directed to ensure that in cases currently being heard, “only lawyers, parties and their witnesses are allowed in Court”.

    The new directives according to the CJ, has become necessary “to ensure that the Courts are sufficiently decongested” in accordance with the social distancing directives issued by President Nana Akufo-Addo on March 15 as part of measures to stem the spread of the covid-19 in Ghana.

    “We are operating in very unusual times with no precedents to guide us,” he said, but said it is key ensure that the needs of the citizenry for justice are adequately satisfied.

    From the first two confirmed cases on March 12, and a daily steady rise, Ghana has within eight days recorded a total of 16 cases of the global pandemic but no fatalities so far.

    Figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show more than 209,000 people have now been infected by the coronavirus worldwide and killed at least 8,000 people globally. The pandemic has caused health crisis in some nations.

    At least 86,000 have recovered from COVID-19, data from Johns Hopkins University in the US has also revealed.

    The five new cases confirmed in Ghana involved three localized infections as authorities say they have no travel history.

    Ghana Health Service officials at the forefront of the disease are unable to tell how two of the localized cases were contracted because they have neither travelled outside Ghana nor had known contact with an infected person.

    In the case of the 53-year-old Ghanaian male in Tema, officials say “no history of travel, no evidence of close contact with confirmed case”.

    For the 29-year-old Ghanaian lady of Accra, officials did not say how she got the disease except to say her “sample confirmed positive in the laboratory”.

    However, for a 34-year-old Ghanaian lady resident of Accra, she was said to have contacted an infected person her place of work.

    A statement issued moments ago by the Ghana Health Service said all the five new cases were reported from Greater Accra Region and involved Ghanaians.

    The fourth case is a 41-year-old Ghanaian male who arrived in Ghana by KLM on the 15 March 2020.

    “[He] indicated exposure with family members in Amsterdam exhibiting respiratory symptoms and also on the flight with some passengers sneezing and coughing; sample confirmed positive in the laboratory,” the Ghana Health Service stated.

    A 36-year-old Ghanaian male resident in Paris, France although arrived in Ghana with an unconfirmed case, he later tested positive.

    Officials said there is “no evidence of contact with infected person”.

    Though no death has been recorded in the country since the first two confirmed cases were recorded on March 12, there are fears the situation could get worse as Ghana appears to be moving from steady rise to a surge with localized cases being recorded.

    Ghana has since March 15 taken a series of measures including a ban on social gatherings for the next four weeks, closure of schools and a ban on non-citizens from countries worst hit by the global pandemic from entering Ghana.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Chief Justice restricts access to courts

    Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah is restricting access to the courts.

    He says only litigants, their lawyers as well as witnesses who are to testify in the case scheduled for a particular day should have access to court rooms as the authorities take steps to limit the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

    The Chief Justice in a statement directed judges and magistrates to practice “strict case management techniques such that only parties and witnesses in cases listed to be heard on particular dates would be allowed into the courtroom to avoid large gatherings.”

    This comes at the back of a directive by President Akufo-Addo for measures to be put in place by institutions to combat the spread of the Coronavirus which has been declared a pandemic.

    Six cases have been confirmed in the country as of March 15.

    The directive by the CJ particularly affects convicts and accused persons who are on remand as judges and magistrates have been directed to suspend the hearing of cases involving the movement of convicted and remand prisoners from prisons to the courts.

    The courts are, however, to hear cases of convicts who are appealing their cases. “In criminal appeals, the courts should dispense with the appearance of the appellants who are in prison custody,” the statement indicated.

    The directive also enjoins judges and magistrates to only hear cases which are of extreme urgency and “as far as possible, exercise great restraints in remanding accused persons in order to avoid overcrowding the prisons and the police cells.”

    It said, “Judges and magistrates should endeavour to adjourn cases to specific times on given dates, to limit the number of people that will be allowed into the courtroom. Cause list should be reduced drastically for few cases to be listed for hearing.”

    The statement added that hand sanitizers were being provided for court users and arrangements` were being made to have the courtrooms regularly disinfected.”

    Source: Dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Student granted bail for possessing narcotic drug

    The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Court has granted bail in the sum of GH¢ 30,000.00 to a 19-year-old student for allegedly possessing two wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

    Abdul-Rahman Yakubu, pleaded guilty to possession of narcotic drug but the Court held that the substance had not been tested and granted him bail to reappear in court on March 31, within which due forensic tests would have been completed.

    Police Inspector Michael Koole, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr. Abdul-Razak Musah, that the suspect was arrested on February 24 at Afrancho near Akomadan.

    He said the complainant, Nana Kwaku Bonsam, a fetish priest owns a piece of land at Afrancho which had been turned into a smoking hub by narcotic users.

    The Prosecution said the complainant went to the said location and met the suspect and questioned him of his mission on his property but the accused could not give him any tangible reason.

    He said the complainant then caused his arrest with the help of other witnesses and when they conducted a search in a bag he was carrying, two wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were found.

    Prosecution said the suspect was later handed over to the Afrancho Police together with the exhibits for further investigations.

    He said the suspect claimed ownership of the exhibits in his cautioned statement and they were sealed in the presence of an independent witness before being forwarded to the Police Forensic Laboratory in Accra for testing.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Nkawie Court remands ex-convict over stealing

    The Nkawie Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Johnson Abbey, has remanded an ex-convict into prison custody for stealing at Mpatoam in the Amansie West District.

    Kwame Isaac, also known as Charles Taylor, pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry and stealing and would reappear in court on March 15.

    Police Detective Inspector Anthony Acheampong, prosecuting, said the incident happened on February 28, at about 0230 hours.

    He said the complainant, Rebecca Aning left the door of her room unlocked and went to a mining site, but was called and informed by a witness that the suspect had been seen rushing out of her room with some items.

    The Prosecution said the complainant who quickly returned home detected that her two ceiling fans, a mobile phone, gas cylinder, car tape and other belongings worth over GH? 1,000.00 as well as cash of GHc 750.00 had been stolen.

    Prosecution said a report was made to the Ahwerewa Police, leading to the arrest of the suspect who admitted the offence in his cautioned statement.

    He was subsequently charged and arraigned.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Protozoa sues Multimedia

    The Director of Political Affairs to the Chief of Staff, Frank Asiedu Bekoe popularly known as Protozoa has sued Multimedia group and one of its reporters, Kwetey Nettey for defamation over allegations leveled against him in a recent documentary on Joy FM.

    The documentary aired on Joy News programme, A.M Show on January 15, 2020 alleged that Protozoa who was then a member of the Confiscated Assets Committee allocated and auctioned seized vehicles to politically connected cronies of the government without the beneficiaries paying the required assessed.

    Mr. Bekoe in a writ filed before and Accra High Court avers that he has had a positive image as a staff at the Office of the President until the publication of the defamatory documentary about him in a manner that has caused him public disaffection and impugned his reputation, dignity and ridiculed him in the eye of the right thinking members of society.

    Documentary

    Joy News on January 15, 2020 aired a documentary in which they indicated that “JoyNews investigations have uncovered how the country lost thousands of cedis after confiscated cars were auctioned cheaply by politically connected individuals”, a story on myjoyonline about the documentary indicated.

    “These vehicles are part of 151 confiscated cars that the Director of Political Affairs at the Chief of Staff Office, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, wrote to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to be allocated to selected beneficiaries”, it added.

    The documentary further alleged that Mr. Bekoe, when contacted by the producer of the documentary declined to comment on the matter.

    Letter

    Mr. Bekoe in the aftermath of the documentary through his lawyer wrote to Multimedia asking them to retract and apologize for an allegation leveled against him.

    In the said letter, he indicated that when he was contacted by a journalist from Multimedia on the subject he requested the reporter to put his questions into writing for same to be addressed but it was not done.

    “Thus it was inaccurate to state in your documentary that our client declined to comment on the issue.”

    The letter further states that Protozoa as a member of the Confiscated Assets Committee had no input in the determination of prices or assessable duties on the confiscated vehicles.

    Writ

    Mr. Bekoe has gone ahead to file a writ against Multimedia which could mean that they failed to meet the demands of the plaintiff.

    In his statement of claim, Mr. Bekoe avers that the documentary which was published by Multimedia on various traditional and social media platforms including Youtube contains factual inaccuracies and was clearly circulated to malign and injure his reputation.

    The plaintiff also avers in the particulars of defamation that “it is clear that the defendants (Multimendia and the Kwetey Nettey) sough to embark on a one sided piece of work that was carefully calculated, designed, crafted to malign and destroy the reputation of plaintiff in the eyes right thinking members of society.”

    Relief

    Mr. Bekoe is, therefore, seeking a declaration that the documentary is defamatory of him and it was made without any basis.

    He is seeking an order directed at the defendants, agents, assigns, privies from continuing to air the defamatory documentary as well as they retracting it and rendering an unqualified apology in the same manner on Joynews and in the Daily Graphic

    He is also seeking general damages, compensatory damages of GH¢10 million for loss of reputation as well as cost including legal fees.

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Kenyan woman held after disappearance of Belgian woman

    A woman in Nakuru has been charged in connection with the mysterious disappearance of Belgian national Dysseleer Mireille Lesoipa.

    Kiambu Chief Magistrate Patricia Gichohi on Wednesday granted orders allowing the police to continue holding Ms Lucy Waithera Njuguna, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Ms Lesoipa, for an additional eight days as investigations continue.

    The accused was arrested on February 1 at her residence in Milimani, Nakuru, with Ms Lesoipa’s ATM cards. The foreigner, who detectives suspect was murdered and her body dumped in an unknown place, lived in Nakuru Blankets Estate before her disappearance in early 2019.

    Mr Oliver Nabonwe, the lead detective in the case, told the court in a sworn affidavit that in March 2019 immediately after Ms Lesoipa’s disappearance, the suspect and her accomplices, who are still at large, leased the missing person’s residence to a company identified as Avipro East Africa and started collecting rent.

    They later gave Ms Lesoipa’s lawyer a death certificate alleging that she had died at MP Shah Hospital on July 14, 2019.

    “The said death certificate was used to file a succession cause No. 40/2019 at the Nakuru High Court in respect to the missing person’s estate where the respondent is one of the beneficiaries,” Mr Nabonwe says in his affidavit, in which he also revealed that the death certificate was a forgery.

    “The death certificate has since been confirmed to be unauthentic by the State Department of Civil Registration. MP Shah Hospital through its medical director has attested that the missing person was neither treated, nor passed on, at their facility,” says the detective.

    Ms Njuguna was also found in possession of Ms Lasoipa’s passport, with “immigration stamps indicating that (Ms Lesoipa) travelled to India on December 12, 2018 and returned on June 30, 2019.”

    Ms Njuguna explained she had visited Ms Lesoipa at Janaupuri Bhagat Hospital, where she had been admitted since December 2018, but detectives have disputed this theory, saying neither Ms Lesoipa nor Ms Njuguna travelled to India from Kenya.

    ” The respondent has been changing her assertions at one time alleging that (Ms Lesoipa) died in a hospital in India and was cremated at Kariokor. The crematoriums at Kariokor and Langata have no (such) records,” says the investigator.

    Mr Nabonwe told the court that releasing the accused on cash bail or a bond may jeopardise their investigations owing to the seriousness of the case and because the accused has been in contact with possible witnesses and other persons of interest.

    “Our investigations have revealed that the respondent is directly linked to the disappearance of the missing person believed to be dead and if released … will interfere with investigations,” he said.

    Ms Gichohi allowed police to detain the suspect at the Muthaiga Police Station for eight more days. The suspect has been in police custody for 11 days.

    The magistrate noted that the issue is complex and requires more time.

    Stressing that Ms Lesoipa has a constitutional right to life and liberty, Ms Gichohi said that the matter depicts a suspect who wishes to benefit from the violation of such rights.

    The magistrate also noted that the suspect is said to have presented false documents in an attempt to benefit from the victim’s property.

    She said there is no law that compels investigators to reveal the details of their investigations to suspects before investigations are completed.

    Source: allafrica.com

  • Interdict some appointed MMDAs or face court action – Disability Federation bares teeth

    The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisation (GFD) in the Bono region has given 9 out of the 11 MMDAs in the region a three-week ultimatum to interdict persons appointed by the MMDAs to represent the GFD as ordered by the Minister of Local Government, Hajiah Alima Mahama.

    At a press conference to petition President Akufo-Addo and the Minister for Local Government, they indicated that those selected to represent the GFDs do not know anything about FWD hence the need for the government to intervene.

    Addressing the media in Sunyani to channel their displeasure, the Vice President of the Bono regional chapter of the GFD, Miss Sirina Mahamadu, said the Local Government and Rural Development gave the directive on how 30 percent government appointees to the MMDAs will be selected.

    According to her, the document signed by the Minister for the Local Government, Hajia Alima Mahama, made it clear that MMDAs should liaise with or consult the GFD in identifying such persons with disability to represent the interest of PWDs in the various MMDAs in the country.

    She said despite the order from the Minister, 3 out of the 11 MMDAs in the Bono region complied, a situation she described as worrying.

    “The MMDAs went ahead to select persons who do not have any idea of the GFD while some were accident victims.”

    With the guidelines from the minister which they are not happy about, Miss Sirina revealed that Jaman North, Berekum East and Wenchi Municipal are the three whose assemblies complied with the guidelines.

    Sirina Mahamadu then called on the President, Akufo-Addo and Minister for Local Government, Hajia Alima Mahama to intervene or else they will proceed to court whiles appealing to the President to award three DCEs who appointed the GFDs representatives.

    “We are petitioning the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, the Local Government Minister Hajia Alima Mahama to intervene else we are giving the MMDAs three weeks from now to interdict those appointed to represent the GFDs in their districts or we will take them to court.”

    Source: gbcghanaonline.com

  • Ofosu-Ampofo, Boahen’s trial adjourned to February 19

    The Accra High Court has adjourned the trial of Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and Anthony Kwaku Boahen, both Chairman and Deputy Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress respectively to February 19, 2020.

    This followed a letter from Ofosu-Ampofo’s counsel, Mr Tony Lithur that he had to appear before the Supreme Court.

    Dr Aziz Bamba, lawyer for Boahen, however, was not aware of the letter which was addressed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    Mrs Yvonne Atakorah Obuobisa, the DPP, got the letter late and announced its content in court on Tuesday, February 11.

    Ofosu-Ampofo has been charged with conspiracy to cause harm and assault on public officers, whilst Boahen has been charged with conspiracy to cause harm.

    They have both denied the offences and have been granted a GHc100,000.00 bail with one surety each.

    SOurce: myjoyonline.com

  • Purchasing clerk in court for fraudulent breach of trust

    Aboagye Dacosta, a purchasing clerk, aged 46, facing a charge of fraudulent breach of trust at the Enchi District Magistrate court was on Monday granted bail in the sum of 15,000.00 Ghana cedis with two sureties one to be justified.

    He pleaded not guilty and would re-appear on Tuesday February 18.

    Police Detective Inspector Joseph Kwadwo Agyare told the court that the complainant is Dennis Boakye, District Manager of Fludor Ghana Limited in Enchi “B” in the Aowin Municipality.

    The prosecution said during the 2019-2020 cocoa season the accused who resides in Enchi with the complainant posed as a cocoa purchasing agent and approached the complainant with the intent to purchase dried cocoa beans for him.

    He said the complainant gave the accused a cash sum of 25,750.00 Ghana cedis which was equivalent to purchase 50 bags of dried cocoa beans and Aboagye promised to honour his part of the contract.

    According to Inspector Agyare, after the said amount had been given to the accused he purchased only ten bags of the dried cocoa beans for the complainant and absconded with the rest of the cash.

    The prosecution said all efforts by the complainant to trace the accused to retrieve the remaining forty bags did not materialized, so he made a formal complaint at the Divisional Police Criminal Investigation Department in Enchi.

    He said on January 13, this year, the complainant had a tip-off that Aboagye was hiding at Anyinam in the Eastern Region, so he quickly informed the Divisional Crime Office who later communicated with the Anyinam Police, and the accused was arrested and escorted to Enchi to assist in investigations.

    Inspector Agyare said during interrogation accused admitted the offence in his cautioned statement.

     

    Source: GNA

  • Ofosu Ampofo unhappy as court accepts state witness evidence

    The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, is unhappy after an Accra High Court accepted a state witness’ evidence in his trial.

    Ofosu Ampofo’s camp were not happy and challenged the ruling by the court today, Wednesday.

    They then proceded to file and appeal at the Court of Appeal claiming that the witness statement cannot hold because the witness had denied knowledge of the content.

    Benjamin Osei Ampofo Adjei the prosecution witness who is also a broadcast journalist with Adom FM told the court last week that he did not author the content in the said witness statement.

    Though agreeing that the statement had his signature, Mr. Ampofo Adjei told the court that he only signed a document brought to him when he was on his way to read the news hence could not read the content of the said document.

    Despite the stance of Mr. Ampofo Adjei, the High Court still admitted the witness statement as evidence, a decision lawyers of Samuel Ofosu Ampofo were not happy with.

    Samuel Ofosu Ampofo is standing trial together with Anthony Kwaku Boahen, a Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC, over an alleged leaked tape in which the NDC National Chairman allegedly incited violence against the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa, and the Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante.

    The two have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit assault against a public officer while Ofosu-Ampofo has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault against a public officer.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • FLASHBACK: Maame Dokuno in court over sodomy charges

    On February 5, 2009, veteran Ghanaian actress, Grace Omaboe affectionately called Maame Dokuno faced charges of exposing children to danger and abuse of children after some children in her orphanage allegedly engaged in sexual acts.

    The charges were brought against her by the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of Ghana Police Service.

    However, the charges were later rubbished by the actress who claimed, at the time that, they were lies fabricated by her political opponents to tarnish her image.

    Speaking to Gideon Ayeequye on World at Five, a News and Current Affairs programme on Happy FM, a charged Maame Dokuno described the charges as baseless and without merit.

    Read the full story originally published on February 6, 2009, on Ghanaweb

    Popular actress and NPP member, Grace Omaboe, also known in public life as Maame Dokuno has expressed outrage after been charged by the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of Ghana Police Service for exposing some inmate of her orphanage to danger.

    It emerged on Wednesday that the popular actress is facing two charges of exposing children to danger and abuse of children after some of inmates of her Peace and Love orphanage at Adenta engaged in sexual acts.

    Speaking to Gideon Ayeequye on World at Five, a News and Current Affairs programme on Happy Fm, a charged Maame Dukuno described the charges as trump up been used by her political opponents to tarnish her image.

    She wondered why anybody would prefer charges against her for abusing children or allowing such acts to go on when it is well noted for her concern for kids.

    Though she did not name anyone she suspects is behind this propaganda, Maame Dokuno said it is part of attempts by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to get back at her for supporting Nana Addo in the 2008 elections.

    In a related interview on “Anopa Bosuo”, a Morning Show programme on Happy FM, Maame Dokuno said she had lost hope because of the way the matter was being handled.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Courts to shutdown as workers threaten strike over salary demands

    Ahead of the 2020 budget, Judicial workers are calling for an upward review of their salaries, threatening a sit-down strike should the government fail to accede to their demand.

    According to the workers, their action is preemptive, as intelligence picked from the government sources suggests that government is seeking to sidestep a proposal on their salaries, which was submitted to the Finance Ministry for inclusion in the 2020 budget statement.

    The Finance Ministry, they claimed, rather wants to implement the said proposal agreed upon between them and the Judicial Council, in 2021 instead of 2020.

    JUSAG threatens strike over salary review

    “The Association vehemently disagrees with the position taken by Government,” the workers who form the Judicial Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) said in a letter to the National Labour Commission dated November 1, 3news has reported.

    They have thus served notice to embark on strike from November 13.

    Prior to that, the workers say they “shall put on red-arm bands and hoist red flags in the courts, nationwide” from November 5.

    The workers said their current salary was implemented in 2017 and it was to be renewed bi-annually.

    “However, in the year 2017, the Ministry of Finance sought to cancel the payment of rent allowance to our members and after several protests, the Judicial Council, Government and the Association resolved the issue in 2018 and for implementation in the year 2019,” they claimed.

    Judicial Service staff demand promotions in 2 weeks
    According to them, they wrote for the salary negotiations on April 26, 2019, and subsequently served a reminder on July 29, 2019.

    “On 1st October 2019, the Judicial Council mandated to review our salaries and other salary-related matters under the 1992 Constitution, set up a committee and considered the proposals of the Association, they said.

    The workers said it was resolved that the decisions of the meeting will be forwarded to the Presidency for approval and same captured in the National Budget for the year 2020.

    “It has, however, come to our attention that Ministry of Finance has rather slated our salary review for the year 2020 and for implementation in year 2021,” they alleged.

    This, the workers say, they will not agree to for which reason they have served notice to strike from next week on Wednesday.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • Edem Agbana slaps GNPC boss with Supreme Court suit

    A citizen of the Republic of Ghana, Mr Eric Edem Agbana has sued the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Dr Kofi Koduah Sarpong.

    The suit filed at the Supreme Court is seeking among other reliefs a declaration that Dr Sarpong’s continuous stay in office as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) after attaining the age of sixty-five years is in breach of Article 199(1) and (4) of the 1992 constitution.

    Read: Woyome Bankrupt; Supreme Court slams final hammer in GH¢46m debt

    Mr Agbana is also seeking an order for the Defendant to pay back to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation all salaries, allowances and benefits he obtained from the GNPC from the date of attaining the age of sixtyfive years to date.

    He further wants an order from the apex court for the Defendant to resign immediately from his position as CEO of the GNPC.

    What does Article 199 (1) & (4) say?

    Article 199 relates to the retiring age and pension of public officers.

    Article 199 (1) states that: “A public officer shall, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, retire from the public service on attaining the age of sixty years” while Article 199 (4) states that: “The President may, subject to such conditions as he thinks fit delegate some of his functions under this article by directions in writing to the Police Council or to a committee or to a member of the Council”.

    GNPC Appointment

    In February 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo appointed Sarpong as Acting chief executive officer of GNPC. He replaced Alex Mould who had served as CEO since 2013.

    Read: NCA hits Supreme Court Again

    Until his appointment, Dr Sarpong was the Chair of the Board of Directors of Royal Bank. Dr Sarpong has served in a number of executive, non-executive and advisory positions in many organisations, including the GCB Bank, the Merchant Bank among others.

    Dr Sarpong is a Chartered Accountant, and holds a PhD in Industrial and Business Studies from the University of Warwick; M.Acc in International Accounting and Finance from the University of Glasgow. Dr Sarpong is also an alumnus of the University of Ghana Business School having obtained his MBA and B.Sc (Administration) in Accounting, from the school.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Court remands suspects in alleged instability plot

    The three people arrested for allegedly possessing arms, explosive devices and ammunition in Alajo and Bawaleshie, in the Greater Accra Region have been remanded into the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI).
    The suspects are Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, a medical practitioner; Donya Kafui, alias Ezor, a blacksmith; and Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu, a freight manager.

    One of their accomplices, a man identified only as Sule is currently on the run.

    Abducted at 12, brave Ghanaian woman fought for compensation in U.S court

    The three have been jointly charged for conspiracy to commit crime to wit manufacturing of arms and ammunition, possessing of explosives, firearms and ammunition without lawful authority.

    Two of them faced two extra charges.

    Donya Kafui faces charges of manufacturing six pistols and manufacturing 22 explosives while Mac-Palm faces an additional charge of possessing 22 explosives, six pistols, three hand grenades without lawful authority.

    Adjournment

    The court presided over by Ms Rosemond Dodua Agyiri remanded the three persons after their charges had been read to them and translated to them in two local languages of their preference to reappear before the court in two weeks.

    While Kafui had his offence translated in Ewe, Debrah opted for the Twi language.

    George Afriyie pays courtesy call on Chief Imam ahead of GFA elections

    Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Sylvester Asare told the court that the accused persons were arrested over the weekend and pleaded with the court to remanded into the custody of the BNI to enable the police continue with its investigations.

    They arrived at the court at about 1:20pm with two of them Ezo Kafui and Bright Ofosu handcuffed together while Mac-Palm had his two hands chained.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh