Lawyer avails legal service to jailed 'DropThatChamber' soldier

Private legal practitioner lawyer Yaw Oppong has offered his services to incarcerated military officer lance corporal Isaac Wassa.

The beleaguered soldier was seen in a video calling on the President H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to urge Parliament to drop that idea of building a new $200m chamber.

Since that video went viral, the military high command has been incensed by the decision of the naïve soldier and have placed him in a guardroom for 90 days while he loses his rank as a lance corporal since his act of indiscretion violates the ethics of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Private Wassah of 2 Recce Squadron in Sunyani was sentenced after a summary trial.

But, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Oppong said the sentence was too harsh and that he was available to offer legal services for the convicted soldier. Counsel explained that he would study the process leading to the conviction and advise accordingly when given the opportunity.

Mr Oppong said he had in the past appealed the conviction of a soldier through court marshal and was successful.

The hearing was chaired by the Commanding Officer of the unit, Lt Col W. A. K Ackah. Other members of the board were Captain V. Bempong, WO1 V. Dafliso, Sgt R. Attor and L/Cpl J. O. Okumtey.

Private Wassah was convicted after he had been subjected to series of questions, a source close to the trial said. The source disclosed that Wassah did not show remorse for his actions.

“His acts were in clear contravention of military rules. His action brought the name of the Ghana Armed Forces into disrepute,” the source concluded.