Sunyani (B/A), Jan. 30, GNA – A Magistrate Court in Sunyani has granted a GH¢ 20,000 bail with a surety each to nine suspects in connection with a violent demonstration at Kwame Danso in the Sene District of Brong Ahafo.
The demonstration led to the death of two people and the assault of a police officer who is now on admission at the intensive unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital in Kumasi.
The nine were among 20 accused standing trial, for rioting with weapons, causing harm and causing unlawful damage, at the court presided by Mr Joseph Mensah.
They are Prince Ohene Dankwah, 34, Assembly Member and school proprietor, Amisu Issaka, 58, farmer, Kwadwo Kumah, 65, farmer, Nana Kwasi Nyame, 66, farmer and Kwadwo Samuel 63, pensioner.
Others are Osei Kuffour, 16, a student, Boanya Mensah, 50, farmer, Kwame Tawiah and Kwabena Nketiah, Assembly Member.
They were ordered to report to the Kwame Danso Police station every Monday to assist in police investigations.
Mr Mensah in granting the bail, said the Assembly Members amongst the group “play a crucial role in development” and the bail would enable them to carry out with their work.
“The court has also put into consideration the health status of the old men and decided to give them bail”, he stated.
Nana Obiri Boahen, Counsel for the accused, had earlier told the court that the prosecution had changed the charge sheet on about three or four occasions in court, “which meant that the police had not conducted proper investigations in the matter.
Chief Inspector Kingsley Baafi told the court that on January 4 the accused wielded offensive weapons and embarked on a demonstration at Kwame Danso against the Dwan royal family with a specific focus on Joseph Yaw Kumah and Nana Nyarko for being an impediment to the enstoolment of the Dwan Paramount Chief.
He said during the demonstration the accused had information that Yaw Kumah had gone to the police station to seek refuge so they proceeded to the station and Lance Corporal Felix Danquah who was on duty at the station armed with an AK assault rifle ordered the demonstrators to retreat but they rather attacked him and in the process of disarming him the gun fired and hit two people, Atta Kwasi and Kwabena Takyi, who died instantly.
He said the demonstrators then subjected the policeman to severe beatings after they had disarmed him and mercilessly assaulted Kumah who was also at the station.
When they realized that the policeman was unconscious and was at the point of death they abandoned him and went to a garage where the policeman’s golf salon car with registration number GR5570X was parked and set it ablaze.
