Appeal Court hears Selormey's "stay of proceedings" on September 10
Police advocate the re-introduction of motor courts
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 August 2001
The Fast Track High Court on Friday adjourned to August 31, the case in which Victor Selormey, a former Deputy Minister of Finance, is charged with wilfully causing the loss of 1.3 million dollars to the state, pending the hearing of a motion for stay of proceedings filed at the Court of Appeal.
This followed a submission by Defence Counsel, Barima Manu that the defence had filed a writ on August 22 for a stay of proceedings.
The Fast Track Court, presided by Justice Sam G. Baddoo, an Appeal Court Judge sitting as additional High Court Judge, said although the court has not been served with a copy of the writ, it was depending on the information by Defence Counsel to grant a week's adjournment.
The motion has been fixed for Monday, September 10. Selormey is charged with Dr Frederick Owusu Boadu, President of Leebda Corporation Limited in Texas, United States, for allegedly defrauding the state.
He has pleaded not guilty and has been admitted to 1.5 billion cedis bail with two sureties to be justified.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Wa (Upper West) 27 August 2001
Emmanuel Ansong, Upper West Regional Police Commander on Saturday advocated the re-introduction of motor courts to ensure the speedy trial of traffic offences.
Delays in the trial of traffic offenders do not deter drivers from further infringing road traffic regulations, Ansong said in a speech read for him at a one-day seminar for drivers and transport owners at Wa, in the Upper West Region.
It was one of several seminars organised by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) on the theme: "Corruption in the driving profession," to improve efficiency and to reduce the high rate of road accidents.
Ansong told the drivers to "see the police as law enforcement personnel who are trained to arrest and prosecute offenders and not to collect money or taxes."
He warned them to refrain from bribing the police when arrested since any attempt to influence them could aggravate their cases saying, "the giver of bribes is as guilty as the receiver."
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 27 August 2001
The Sunyani Community Tribunal has refused to grant an application by the Brong Ahafo Regional Police to bond seven kingmakers to keep the peace in the Berekum Traditional Area.
Charles Adjei Wilson, Chairman of the Tribunal said the police failed to prove any threat to security and breach of public peace, which could warrant the intervention of the state.
"The attempt by the kingmakers to perform their functions and roles, as custom and tradition require them to do, cannot form the basis of a bond", he said.
The tribunal, however, warned that the ruling must not be wrongly interpreted as a victory for any side in the dispute and that supporters of the factions must be restrained until the chieftaincy dispute was resolved.
The police on March 9 filed a motion against the Kingmakers, contending that they prevented the installation of a new chief and organised the youth to cause confusion in the area.
The kingmakers, Nana Ofori Appiah II, Nana Adu Gyamfi-Kumaning II, Nana Kofi Darteh II, and Nana Ofori Twafohene, Nana Tutu Akyempimhene, Nana Kofi Yeboa, and Nana Kwadwo Kyere, denied the allegation.
Their counsel, Mr W.Y. Oppong, argued that the application was designed to frustrate the respondents to abandon their duties as kingmakers.
GRi../
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com