GBA condemns attack on Kumasi Circuit court

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has described the attack on a Kumasi Circuit court by members of the Delta Force, a private security arm within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), as an attack on the independence of the judiciary and should be condemned by all.

A statement issued by its president, Benson Nustukpui, minutes after news about the attack broke, said: “The Ghana Bar Association is shocked and horrified at the news item and video recordings which have gone viral alleging that members of the supposed 'Delta Force' have attacked the Circuit court in Kumasi earlier today after the Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Mary Senkyere, had reportedly ordered the thirteen (13) persons who were charged with the offence on conspiracy to commit crime, assault on a public officer, causing unlawful damage and preventing a public officer from doing his lawful duty, to be remanded in custody and re-appear on the 20th day of April 2017.

“The GBA condemns in no uncertain terms this blatant disregard for the orders of a duly constituted court of law and attack on the judge in the discharge of her lawful duties. This is an affront to the independence of the Judiciary and an attack on the rule of law.”

Apart from whisking away their colleagues, the Delta Force members also vandalised court property and almost assaulted the judge in the process.

Only two police officers were on duty at the court, one of them being a pregnant officer. They managed to whisk the judge into her chambers for safety.

The 13 were on trial for assaulting the Ashanti regional security coordinator, George Agyei, who they said could not be allowed to serve in that capacity given he was not native to the region and did not help in the campaign towards the NPP’s victory in 2016.

He was prevented from performing his duties, being yanked from his office on Friday March 24. Police first arrested the leader of the group, Kwadwo Bamba, from his office and made more arrests subsequently while others turned themselves in. The 13 accused persons have been charged with conspiracy to assault, assaulting a public officer, and causing unlawful damage.