Overturn ruling and re-arrest freed Delta Force 8 – NDC MPs

The Minority NDC Caucus in Parliament is demanding for the immediate overturn of the Kumasi Court ruling that freed 8 members of vigilante group, Delta Force for lack of evidence.

They also want the court to order for the re-arrest of the group and prosecute them.

In their view, Wednesday’s court ruling is a slap in the face of justice and something which will undermine the administration of justice in Ghana.

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu who addressed a press conference some few hours after the release of the suspects said they find the action of the Attorney-General and the government capricious, arbitrary and partisan in the matter.

“We find it very bizarre for the Attorney-General to say there is lack of evidence to prosecute the Delta Force vigilante group members when there was enough evidence shared on Facebook, twitter and other social media platforms to deal with“, he noted.

A Kumasi Circuit Court on Wednesday struck out a case in which eight members of the Vigilante group, Delta Force, affiliated to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) were being tried for aiding the escape of their 13 colleagues from lawful custody.

The court presided over by her honour Patricia Amposah arrived at the decision after the prosecution failed to provide evidence against the accused.

The eight were charged with causing disturbances in court, resisting arrest and rescuing persons in lawful custody.

The prosecution tendered in a response from the Attorney General after it presented the docket for advice.

According to the prosecutor, ACP Okyere Darko, the police did not have enough evidence to support the charges levelled against the accused persons.

Lawyers for accused say they have been vindicated since they earlier argued that their clients were innocent.

Background

Stoutly built members of Delta Force stormed the Regional Coordinating Council and forcibly ejected Mr. Agyei because he is not a native of the Ashanti Region. It took the timely intervention of the police to save the situation and restore law and order.

The angry men had earlier destroyed some office equipment in their bid to drive out Mr Agyei.

Their action was roundly condemned by a large section of the public who called for their arrest. Less than 24 hours after the act, the leader of the group Kwadwo Bamba was arrested by the Police.

Other members were subsequently arrested and charged for the offence of conspiracy to assault and assaulting a public officer and causing unlawful damage.

On the day they were arraigned before court, the Presiding Judge remanded them into prison custody, a decision that angered their colleagues who had stormed the court premises. They eventually got their colleagues freed.

The police subsequently arrested 8 perseons whom they suspected aided the escape of 13 members of the group.