The seven New Patriotic Party (NPP) members suspected to have played various roles in disturbances at Gwollu in the Sissala West District, have been granted a Ghc5,000 each with two sureties by a Wa High Court.
The court, presided over by Justice Kwesi Boakye, took the decision after counsel for the seven, Ubaidu Sadique, appealed for their release initially at a Wa Circuit court.
The large number of people gathered up at the Circuit Court, prompted the transfer of the case to the High Court, possibly for security reasons.
Despite the bail, the accused persons are to report weekly to the Sissala West District Police Commander, starting next Monday, November 6.
In an interview with Citi News, Lawyer Ubaidu Sadique said he felt justice has been served “because there was no basis for the seven to have been remanded because all the ingredients for them to have been granted bail were available.”
The substantive case is yet to be determined at the Wa Magistrate Court, which will continue hearing the matter on Wednesday, November 8.
The seven have been charged with rioting and are suspected to have instigated the youth, who stormed the DCE’s office and locked it up.
The agitating youth also complained that they were being neglected in favour of people aligned to the DCE, Mohammed Bako.
The Sissala West Constituency Chairman of the NPP was one of the suspects remanded on Wednesday November 1, 2017.
The other six were identified as Alidu Mumuni, Mahamudu Forkah, Walika Iddrisu, Adamu Sumani, Zaato, Sulley Mohammed and Gbene Lukeman.
Upper West NPP Chairmen threaten protests
All 10 constituency chairmen of the NPP in the Upper West Regionthreatened massive demonstrations in protest of the decision by the Wa Magistrate Court to remand the seven if they were not granted bail.
One of the Chairmen, who spoke to Citi News on condition of anonymity, said their decision was communicated to the regional security council and the leadership of the NPP in the region on Thursday night.
The Upper West Regional Constituency chairmen of the NPP believe the seven persons remanded were wrongly arrested.
The governing NPP is already under scrutiny following the increase in the instances of political vigilantism that has seen similar attacks on District Assemblies and other state institutions.
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By: Latif Mahama/citifmonline.com/Ghana
