A HUMAN Rights Lawyer and a leading member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Francis Kojo Sosu has saved Eastern region’s agenda 50/50 by securing a bail condition for the five executives of the Mpraeso constituency who were accused and remanded into police custody.
The incarceration of the constituency executive led to the closure of all the 32 offices in the Eastern region who demanded the immediate release of the constituency chairmen and the removal of the Mpreaso District Chief Executive (DCE), Joseph Omari.
Earlier, the constituency chairmen had threatened to halt the agenda 50/50 until their colleagues were released from prison.
The five executives were Mohammed Salifu, Smart Somoah Nkansah, Sulemana Nuhu, Haruna Seidu and David Osei Bonsu. They were remanded last Friday August 6, 2015 after the DCE had accused them of assault and stealing of his wrist watch, mobile phone and cash of GH¢700.00.
According to lawyer Sosu, the executives were being held on charges of conspiracy, stealing, unlawful entry, assault on public officer, and causing unlawful damage.
Speaking to the Daily Heritage, Lawyer Sosu said he had to file an ex-parte application for bail under section 96 of Act 30.
He argued that there were procedural improprieties as the executives were not formally arrested, cautioned and charged, adding that the entire proceedings were against the rights of the accused persons to fair trial under Article 19 of the Constitution.
Lawyer Sosu said the court considered the application favorably and granted bail in the sum of GH¢8,000.00 with one surety.
He added that all the executives have since executed the bail and have been freed, adding that the freedom led to an explosion of joy.
“The biggest breakthrough has led to the opening of all the constituency offices for normal party work to commence with calm restoring in the region,” he added.
Lawyer Sosu is, therefore, appealing to the party hierarchy to as a matter of urgency intervene to settle the case out of court before Friday, August 14, 2015 where the court will seat on the matter.
The spokesperson for the 32 constituency executives, Johnson Amoh praised Lawyer Sosu for his timely intervention to save the agenda 50/50 of the party in the Eastern region, but insisted that the DCE for Kwahu South must be sacked.
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