The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) David Asante-Apeatu to re-arrest the 13 accused persons who were freed from court by some members of pro-NPP vigilante group, Delta Force earlier today.
The GBA condemned the attacks by the Delta Force at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) Circuit Court earlier today.
The Association, in a statement, expressed utter shock at the group's action which it described as "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".
The GBA stressed that the vigilante's action was "unacceptable", endangers the country's peace and "creates room for anarchy, chaos and lawlessness" which is alien to the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
"Such glorification of violence, dastardly acts and threat to our Judiciary cannot be tolerated or allowed under our democratic dispensation. It is totally unacceptable under whatever pretence to disobey orders of the court, attack or threaten to attack the person of the judge thereby endangering the peace of our country.
"The GBA notes that any system that allows an individual, group of persons or institutions to disobey orders made by a court of competent jurisdiction with impunity undermines the independence of the judiciary, creates room for anarchy, chaos and lawlessness. This certainly has no place under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana", the statement further read.
Full statement below:
GHANA BAR ASSOCIATION'S STATEMENT ON THE "DELTA FORCE" ATTACK ON THE KUMASI CIRCUIT COURT AND FREEING ITS MEMBERS ON 6TH APRIL 2017
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 13 persons who the Circuit Court ordered to be remanded in custody were said to have been taken away by the members of the alleged "Delta Force" in clear disobedience of the Court's order.
The report further stated that the few police personnel present did their best to protect the Judge whilst the alleged members of the "Delta Force" destroyed some court property.
It is sickening and horrifying to watch the said videos of persons using violence as a means to defy the Court's orders.
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.
Such glorification of violence, dastardly acts and threat to our Judiciary cannot be tolerated or allowed under our democratic dispensation. It is totally unacceptable under whatever pretence to disobey orders of the court, attack or threaten to attack the person of the judge thereby endangering the peace of our country.
The GBA notes that any system that allows an individual, group of persons or institutions to disobey orders made by a court of competent jurisdiction with impunity undermines the independence of the judiciary, creates room for anarchy, chaos and lawlessness. This certainly has no place under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately re-arrest the 13 persons ordered to be remanded, cause a thorough investigation of the incident to ensure that all persons who played any role whatsoever in the attack on the court are arrested, duly charged and prosecuted.
We also call on the Minister of Interior to as a matter of urgency take steps to ensure the immediate disbandment of the "Delta Force" and all other vigilante groups that have sprung up in our country.
We call on all well meaning Ghanaians to condemn this resort to violence in flagrant disobedience of court orders.
The Bar wishes finally to emphasize that an independent judiciary is the backbone of the rule law.
A judiciary that is protected against all forms of intimidation and interference is the key to securing judicial independence and the freedoms of the citizenry.
We should therefore not, in any circumstance, countenance any attack whatsoever on the courts and the Judiciary as a whole for that matter.
Issued in Accra, this 6th day of April 2017.
Signed
Benson Nutsukpui
National President
Justin Amenuvor
National Secretary
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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There is the need in all sectors of government and the economy to strengthen our human resource base and accelerate our capacity building exercise. Towards this end, Akufo-Addo must personally ensure that Ghanaians are sent outside for training, and also foreign experts brought in to help in this exercise. This we started after becoming independent & a republic but performance in some sectors is worst today globally.
Ghana police please sit in your houses, and play with your children and wife's okay. Do not go and fight NPP fight. Monkey Akufo Addo used these people to burnt markets in Ghana to make Mahama unpopular. Now, the chicken has come home to dance with NPP and its all die be die president, allow him to deal with them.After when you go after them, they will all them to go for free.
MATE MEHO PERIOD HAS ONCE AGAIN VISITED OUR DOORSTEPS.THIS IS JUST THE REPETITION OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN TAMALE WHEN A PRISONER WAS FORCIBLY FREED BY THE NPP SUPPORTERS AT THE PRISONS..THE VIOLENT NATURE OF OUR LEADERSHIP IS MANIFESTING LIVE..WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE POLICE TO DO,WHEN ANY REASONABLE ACTION TO BRING LAW AND ORDER RESULTS TO CASUALTIES.EVERY GHANAIAN WORKER TODAY IS CONCERNED WITH HIS JOB SECURITY.IT FOR IS A BIG SHAME GHANAS DEMOCRACY TO BE HIJACKED ILLITEREATES AND VIOLENT
i now appreciate Ghana's definition of the word.. competent!!! Accuse another(sackee) to look or appear black just to get rid of him so you (sacker) can continue doing same old error you accused your predecessor of in worst proportion!!!
Ghanaian leadership today is very poor.Where is the president and his vice.I want to hear them on this issues,we deserve to be discipline as leaders of this country.INDISCIPLINE HINDERS PROGRESS.
Are you please suggesting the NPP and the ruling government don't know their own force they created any more? It isn't a sin to belong to a party, just don't play the Ostrich, don't be a coward. Face the rhythm as NDC did. What you and your part is facing is called Khama. You created a 'monster' and now that it has nothing to feed on, it is turning back on you. Be serious and responsible and don't try to look for any other party to blame. The NPP know their own, and they are already condemning this irresponsible and treasonable act so why try to look for a cave to hide in. Wake up from your slumber wai.
You Ghanaians may think these terrorist groups created by Nana Ado are joking but wait and see. This is how Boko Haram started, Nana is not an action man he run to London to relax while the innocent are brutalised. if not curbed there will be a time where even a police man and judge will be in hiding. These animals started with passport offices, went to NHIS, took over toll booths, took over kintampo water falls and led to the killing of 20 kids. They have been seizing offices and cars and brutalising people yet your Nana know all so called competent leader is enjoying his trips and throwing parties. We were warned but we refused. these were the very groups that South African mercenaries were brought in to train, when Mahama caught them and returned them most Ghanaians did not understand. Today see what what Ghana is going through. You were promised heaven on earth and free free free things, these attacks are some of Nana Ado free things.
When they were attacking ordinary citizens and political opponents we all kept quiet. What has changed now. I think we should all clap for them for a good job done. It was long overdue but better late than never. They can now escalate it to other areas like the presidency,parliament house and eventually take over the country.
Hello Ghanaians. Could it be that there are some other Political Party brains engineering this whole Delta Force attacks to make the ruling NPP Gov't look bad? Are those involved really NPP members or sympathizers? Just asking.
Ei GBA, are you now talking because your members are under threat? Onyame ahu mo oooo.