GRi in Court Ghana 20 - 04 - 2001
Baby Ocansey to appear before regional
tribunal on April 23
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 20 April 2001
A Sunyani Tribunal on Thursday remanded Professor Agyewodin Adu Gyamfi Ampem II, Omanhene of Acherensua Traditional Area, in prison custody on charges of murder and causing harm.
The revered chief, who is also the Chairman of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Council, Kumasi, is alleged to have shot one person and seriously injured five others around 7 p.m.
Nii Ato Quansah, 30, deceased, and the injured who are on admission at the Catholic Hospital at Hwidiem, were said to be among a group of people who had mobilised themselves with the intention of destooling the chief.
Prof. Agyewodin Ampem's statement was not taken and he will reappear on Tuesday, April 24, 2001.
The Prosecution did not present the facts of the case but rather asked the tribunal to remand the chief to enable the police conclude its investigations.
"The prosecutor wishes to humbly appeal to the honourable tribunal to remand Prof. Agyewodin Ampem because his release could undermine investigations, which is on-going," he pleaded.
Mr. K. Otu-Essel, counsel for Prof. Agyewodin Ampem, however, said the continued incarceration of his client "is unjustified and therefore he should be granted bail since he will always be available when needed".
He pointed out that his client is a highly respected academician and traditional ruler who was forced to defend himself when the group stormed his house to attack and destool him.
Mr. Otu-Essel said his client has the legal right to defend himself because his life was in danger as the group, which stormed his palace, was chanting war songs and calling for his blood.
"The fact that the Professor earlier gave warning shots shows that he did not set out to kill anybody and should therefore not be treated like a common criminal."
Mr. Otu-Essel said prior to the incident, the chief had even informed the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister about the rising tension in the town because of the group's agitation for his destoolment.
"It is unfair for the client to suffer further incarceration on the grounds that the police have not completed their investigation since he is not the cause of the unpreparedness of the prosecution," he further argued.
The tribunal, chaired by Mr. Charles Wilson, dismissed counsel's application for bail but asked him to re-submit it at the adjourned date for consideration.
Meanwhile, the palace of Prof. Agyewodin Ampem has been vandalised, his property stolen and car set ablaze.
A police source told the GNA in Sunyani that detachments of police have been sent to the town to avert the outbreak of fresh violence.
It said unidentified persons have even damaged parts of the palace and the presence of the police was to forestall further destruction.
GRi…/
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Baby Ocansey to appear before regional
tribunal on April 23
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 2001
The Osu Community Tribunal on Thursday committed Hajia Baby Ocansey Abubakari Sidiq, a trader, to stand trial at the regional tribunal for defrauding the Bank of Ghana.
Baby Ocansey, 60, is charged with conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences. Her plea was not taken and she was remanded in custody to appear before an Accra Regional Tribunal on April 23.
The tribunal chaired by Mrs Ivy Heward-Mills also remanded in custody three people who were accused of harbouring Ocansey.
They are Alhaji Mohammed Sheriff Pupulampu, a herbalist, Osman Mohammed, unemployed and Ibrahim Mohammed, a footballer.
Their plea was not taken and their case was rescheduled for April 26.
Chief Inspector Margaret Awuni, prosecuting, said in April last year, the police declared Ocansey a wanted person but the three men hid her at Madina Zongo in Accra where they all lived, until she was arrested upon a tip-off.
She said at the time of harbouring Ocansey, Pupulampu, Osman and Ibrahim knew that they were committing a crime and assisting her to avoid lawful arrest.
Mr Kwame Dadzoe, Counsel for the accused persons argued that a criminal is a person tried, found guilty and convicted, but since Ocansey had not been tried and found guilty, the three persons could not be said to be harbouring a criminal.
Mr Dadzoe, therefore, asked the tribunal to purge his clients of the charge and set them free.
GRi…/
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