Court to deal harshly with communal labour defaulters

Hohoe, July 16, GNA-The Hohoe Municipal Magistrate, Ms. Janet Awo Bakudie has warned communal labour defaulters in the Municipal area that the law would be hard on them.

Seven persons, all from Leklebi-Duga near Hohoe, were brought before the Court for allegedly failing to attend communal labour, contrary to the Municipal Assembly's Bye-Law of 1994 and Local Government ACT (ACT 462) of 1993, section 79 (1) (4). They were, Laura Anumah, Rebecca Kessi-Mensah, Kporo Dey, Kpomo Heh, Seth Addae, Emefa Kitiki and Dodzi Azieva. Kessi-Mensah, Heh and Kitiki, who pleaded guilty were convicted and sentenced to 20 Ghana Cedis fines each or three months hard labour in jail in default.

The fines when paid would go into the community's account. Anumah and Azieva were acquitted and discharged. Addae was discharged with a caution while a bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Dey.

Prosecuting Police Inspector, Emmanuel Kpodo, told the Court that the accused persons failed to attend communal labour organized on October 16-18, 2007 to construct a KVIP in the community and refused to pay a fine of two cedis each imposed on them. Inspector Kpodo said they also flouted with impunity demand for property tax by the Municipal Assembly's property tax collector.