The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has noted with “disquiet” the discharge of eight members of the Delta Force – a vigilante group of the ruling NPP.
A circuit court in Kumasi on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 let loose the Octad due to lack of evidence to prosecute them, having allegedly invaded a court to free 13 of their colleagues who were standing trial for attacking the national security coordinator in the Ashanti region.
According to the umbrella body of lawyers in Ghana, it is “disturbed by the turn of events” and hopes it is not the “end of the matter.”
“It is the view of the GBA that justice will not be served if the discharge of the accused persons ends the matter,” a statement jointly signed by Benson Nutsukpui and Justin Amenuvor, the national president and national secretary of the GBA respectively said.
Below is the full GBA statement:
GHANA BAR ASSOCIATION’S STATEMENT ON THE DISCHARGE OF EIGHT ACCUSED PERSONS (DELTA FORCE) BY THE CIRCUIT COURT KUMASI
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has noted with disquiet the discharge of eight persons by the circuit court Kumasi on 17th May 2017 supposedly on the advice of the Attorney General’s Department
The GBA is disturbed by the turn of events and hopes that the discharge of the said accused persons would not signify an end of the matter.
It is the view of the GBA that justice will not be served if the discharge of the accused persons ends the matter.
The Bar calls upon the Ghana Police Service to thoroughly investigate the matter in its entirety. We call upon the police to interview the court officials, lawyers and litigants who were in court on the day in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The GBA reiterates its call in the statement it issued on 6th April 2017 to ensure that all persons who played any role whatsoever in the attack on the court are arrested, duly charged and prosecuted.
Finally we wish to state that it is a threat to the Rule of Law if the impression is created that persons who engage in lawless acts can escape the arm of the law.
ISSUED IN ACCRA, THIS 18TH DAY OF MAY 2017
…………………………………. ……………………………………
BENSON NUTSUKPUI JUSTIN A. AMENUVOR
NATIONAL PRESIDENT NATIONAL SECRETARY
