[ 2017-05-17 ]

Mr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Minister of Information

Prosecutor didn’t consult AG before dropping Delta Force charges – Government
The government has denied that it sanctioned a
decision to drop charges against some members of
pro-NPP vigilante group, Delta Force who were
standing trial for storming a magistrate court to
free their members in lawful custody.

The Ministry of Information in a statement copied
to citifmonline.com said that the Principal State
Attorney in the case did not consult the Attorney
General before dropping the charges against the
accused.

According to the ministry, it has launched an
investigation into the circumstances that led to
the prosecutor declaring that the AG did not have
sufficient evidence against the accused persons.

It said the action by the State Attorney may
amount to “a breach of internal procedures on
matters of this nature.”

A Kumasi Circuit court, presided over by Her
Honour, Patricia Amponsah was forced to discharge
the accused persons and dismissed the case of the
Delta Force members after the prosecutor said it
had instructions from the Attorney General, Gloria
Akuffo, to drop charges against the accused
because they had insufficient evidence.

The 8 members of Delta Force were standing trial
for allegedly storming the court premises earlier
this year to free 13 of their members who were
standing trial on trial for vandalizing property
at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council and
assaulting the Regional Security Coordinator
because they were against his appointment.

But the Ministry of Information said, the decision
by the State attorney was taken on the
prosecutor’s own accord.

It added that government was committed to ensuring
that the rule of law is properly applied in the
matter.

It further revealed that it will deal with persons
whose actions in the matter “bring the work and
commitment of the department into disrepute” and
assured that it will take the necessary measures
to remedy the situation in the interest of the
Republic.

Read the ministry’s full statement below:

The Attorney General’s department is
investigating circumstances under which a
Principal State Attorney in Kumasi decided without
recourse to advice from higher authority on a
matter of high public interest of this nature to
drop charges against persons arrested in
connection with disturbances in a Kumasi
Magistrate’s court in April this year.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the
decision was taken without recourse even to the
Director of Public Prosecution and may amount to a
breach of internal procedures on matters of this
nature.

While the department awaits the full results of
this investigation we will like to reiterate our
commitment to ensuring that the rule of law is
applied at all times and persons found culpable of
any breaches that bring the work and commitment of
the department into disrepute will be sanctioned
and the appropriate remedies adopted in the
interest of the Republic.

Signed Information Ministry

Source - citifmonline.com

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