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The Attorney General and Minister of Justice (AG) has asked the police to go ahead with the prosecution of former Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa, Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah and his campaign coordinator, Mr Oscar Riches who have been accused of destroying election materials and putting up a conduct offensive to a peaceful conduct of elections.


Jumah and Riches had petitioned the Attorney General to intervene in the matter and ask the police not to go ahead with the prosecution because they were not guilty of the accusations leveled against.

But in an advice to the police, the AG asked that they maintain the charges of causing damage to a photo album belonging to the Electoral Commission and resisting lawful arrest and go ahead with the prosecution of the two.

Following that, Superintendent of Police, Mr Emmanuel Akonnor in charge of the prosecution Thursday asked the Kumasi Circuit Court hearing the case to give them some time to prepare adequately to start the trial now that the AG’s advice on the matter was clear on the way forward.

The case was therefore adjourned to August 6, 2015.

Background

Jumah and Riches were arrested on June 13, 2015 during the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary elections at Asokwa, which Jumah who was a contestant lost to Patricia Appiagyei. the incumbent MP.

They were accused of causing damage to a photo album belonging to the Electoral Commission and resisting lawful arrest. They spent one night in police custody.

When they were arraigned Tuesday June 16, 2015, the court granted them a GH¢10, 000 bail each, a surety and asked them to report to the investigator in charge of the case once a week until the case was over.

On three occasions that the case was called in court, it was adjourned because the AG was still studying the docket following a petitioned by the accused persons that the AG should take over the case and advice the police on whether to go ahead with the prosecution.