Elmina fishermen in court for unlawful demonstration

Cape Coast, April 25, GNA - Nine out of 13 fishermen from Elmina who allegedly held unlawful demonstrations in the town and nearly caused mayhem were on Friday granted bail in a total sum of GH¢45,000 with a surety each by a circuit court in Cape Coast presided by Mr Richard Asiedu-Badu.

Four are at large and are being sought by the police. Kobina Badu Manoma, Kweku Mensah, Ekow Mensah, Kwesi Ahinakwah, Egya Ebu, Kofi Efikesim, Kojo Kaya, Atta Panyin And Papa Kow all pleaded not guilty to holding special events without notification, rioting with weapons, discharging gun in town and causing unlawful damage. They are to reappear in court on May 02nd after Nana Kojo Conduah VI, the paramount chief of Elmina, had pleaded for an out of court settlement.

Chief Inspector Hope Azasoo told the court that on April 8, Manoma organized a meeting with the executives of the premix fuel committee in Elmina and instructed the complainant, who is the secretary of the committee, to give him GH¢3,000 for the organization of a demonstration in Accra against SEIKO fishing businesses. He complained that big trawlers are used for fishing to the disadvantage of local fishermen and told the complainant to agree to his proposal or have himself to blame.

He said on April 20 Manoma allegedly organized a group of fishermen numbering about 150, some carried weapons and marched to the Elmina Bantuma Premix Station.

They chanted war songs, used insulting language, threatened to beat up the complainant and burn the place if he refused to release the money.

A report was made to the police and when they got to the scene the mob threw stones at them and Kwesi Ahinaquah attacked Constable Richard Teitey in an attempt to take his rifle from him.

This compelled the police to give three warning shots but the mob charged on the police and one of the demonstrators fired a locally manufactured gun which hit the side glass of a taxi cab. The prosecution said the demonstrators took to their heels when they saw police reinforcements from Cape Coast