Galamsey Operatives Granted Bail at Koforidua Circuit Court B

The Koforidua Circuit Court B presided over by Her Honour, Mercy Adei Kotei has granted each of the 32 accused "galamsey operatives” Ghc350,000 bail with two surety, one to be justified, as the court adjourned the case to July 7, 2021.

The accused persons were on board the prisoner transport vehicle which brought them to court on Tuesday, June 8, 2021with loud praises to God.

They sang in unison the Pentecost song “Y3 da woaseaa, 3fataa,  yeyi woay3 aa, 3fataa,  Awurade Y3suee ahenfo mu henee…..!

Some family members who thronged to the court were excited and joined the accused persons in singing and  praising the Almighty God.

The leader of the galamseyers, who is an aide to National Security Coordinator at the presidency denied bail on last Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

Precisely a week today, the Aide to the National Security Coordinator who was part of the 32 accused persons was denied a bail by the Koforidua High Court B, presided over by the same same judge, Her Honour Mercy Kotei who upheld the plea by the counsel of the accused.

George Asante, the aide to Major General Francis Adu Amanfo (rtd), the National Security Coordinator appointed by President Akufo-Addo in February 2021 to replace the late Joshua Kyeremeh, was among the 32 persons claiming to be National Security Operatives arrested in Atewa Forest reserve engaging in galamsey and remanded by Koforidua Circuit Court ‘B’ to reappear before the court on June 8.

George Asante however filed a bail application through his Counsel at the High Court but has been refused.

George Asante is alleged to be the ring leader of the accused persons most of whom are members of disbanded vigilante groups - Delta and Invisible Forces as National Security Operatives in the first term of President Akufo Addo government.

Recalling the incident, the accused persons went berserk on Monday, May 24, 2021, at the premises of Koforidua Circuit Court’ B’ after the court refused them bail.

The prosecution led by Dickson Donkor and Helen Samlafo both state Attorneys, and Sylvester Asare – Police Prosecutor prayed the court to remand the accused persons into Police Custody to enable further investigation into some names of individuals mentioned by the accused persons as those who allegedly sent them.

The court presided by Her Honour Mercy Addei Kotei, however, remanded the accused into Police Custody to reappear on June 8, 2021.

It was the second time the accused persons have been refused bail by the Court.

Some of the accused persons seated in handcuffs in a bus, went berserk accusing the ruling New Patriotic Party of using and dumping them.

Some of them alleged that the party used them to commit atrocities in Ayawaso West Wuagon by-election as well as the 2020 Presidential election in Kumasi.

The 32 accused persons are George Asante, Kwaku Frimpong, Alfred Kyei, Yaw Opoku, Richard Nartey, Paul Osei Kuffour, Dominic Beblie, Samuel Kofi Edusei, Silas Boakye Gyan, Joseph Oduro Asare, Mukaila Attah, Stephen Opoku, Michael Quansah, Derrick Adu Kwakye, Razark Suleman, Stephen Kofi Felan, Dominic Ghansah, Robert Nartey Tetteh, Eric Addei, Yakubu Mohammed, popularly known as Jordan 1 and Benlord Abebio a.k.a (Commander).

The rest are Adam Dakurugu, Kwame Isaac, Joe Acquah, Emmanuel Arhin, Samuel Asiedu Gyamfra, David Akakpo, Ebenezer Boateng, Joseph Kwaku Gyqmfi, Fuseini Alhassan, Alhassan Asibi and Gabriel Dormate.

They have been charged provisionally with possession of firearms without lawful permits.

William Ofori Akwaboa, Eastern Regional Correspondent