Judge cautions political activists to exercise a lot of restraint

Kumasi, Oct 10, GNA - A circuit court judge has cautioned activists, sympathisers and supporters of political parties to exercise restraint and caution now, during and after the December elections. Mr Ernest Yao Obimpeh, the judge, said this was important because the law would not be flexible with any individual or group of persons who would be put before court for political violence as the nation prepares to go to the polls.

He gave the caution when he remanded Abdul Rahman Salifu, 30, an NDC sympathiser at Bohyen, a suburb of Kumasi, for causing harm to Yaw Owusu, an NPP supporter.

The court also ordered the police to arrest and prefer a charge of assault against Yaw Owusu, the complainant.

Police Chief Inspector J.K. Afful told the court that Salifu quarrelled with Owusu over the removal of NPP posters in their vicinity. He said Salifu became the prime suspect since he had objected to the pasting of the posters in the vicinity.

Chief Inspector Afful said when Salifu was confronted about the removal of the posters he denied removing them and this resulted in a quarrel between him and the complainant.

He said this attracted people in the area who separated them but Owusu picked a stone and threw it at Salifu and it hit his hand. Salifu also picked a bigger stone, threw it at Owusu's head and this resulted in a cut.