A vigilante group affiliated to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana shocked many Ghanaians when its members on Thursday stormed a court in the second capital city, Kumasi freeing suspects who were standing trial.
The vigilante group called the ‘Delta Force’ had 13 of its members standing trial for attacking a state installation in the Ashanti region of Ghana.
The irate youth were unhappy with some appointments the president, Nana Akufo Addo made to the regional coordinating council.
Local media reported that the youth group destroyed court properties and freed the suspects in the process.
An eyewitness told Starr FM the judge who was sitting on the case escaped with the help of the police who were overwhelmed by the group.
Police on Friday confirmed that the 13 suspects who were freed by the vigilante group have now turned themselves in.
NPP’s Delta Force again! They storm Court in Kumasi, attempt attacking judge and free 13 colleagues on trial. pic.twitter.com/gjvm2KxdS8
— Felix Kwakye Ofosu (@FelixKwakyeOfo1) April 6, 2017
Ghana is struggling to deal with the activities of vigilante groups. Prior to the elections last year, the police made attempts to convince all political parties to help disband such groups, but failed.
The National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah told parliament on Thursday that “There are no legally registered vigilante groups in this country and for that matter, there are no such groups to be disbanded. However, I think we need to be pragmatic and accept that foot soldiers of the leading political parties are known to constitute themselves into action troops to molest and unleash violence on the peace loving people of this country.”
There have been reactions to the incident with the country’s Bar Association condemning the actions of the irate group.
In a statement the Ghana Bar Association said “It is sickening and horrifying to watch the said videos of persons using violence as a means to defy the Court’s orders. The GBA condemns in no uncertain terms this blatant disregard for the orders of a duly constituted court of law and attack on the judge in the discharge of her lawful duties. This is an affront to the independence of the Judiciary and an attack on the rule of law.”
On Twitter Ghanaians were equally dismayed.
Ghanaian Police failed in their duty to preserve Law & Order when the Delta Force Crew released prisoners from courts in Kumasi yesterday pic.twitter.com/vGYqJsalcp
— Nana Kwaku Agyemang (@kwasinom) April 7, 2017
@Class913fm This is an act of indiscipline n lawlessness, Delta force must be dealt with accordingly
— Justice Ahiaku (@YonaAhiaku) April 7, 2017
@NAkufoAddo, if you don’t put your feet on the ground and force these delta force idiots to stop messing up, you will be amazed in 2020.
— dNA ~ (@1dnagh) April 6, 2017
Dear @NAkufoAddo
The delta force is fooling. They are fooling. Stop being a coward and act now.
This is preposterous!— Ohene M. Boakye (@HR_Blackness) April 6, 2017
Ghana is a lawless state now under @NAkufoAddo as Delta Force of the NPP storms a Court in Ksi to free its members standing trial.
— Bright Abakosem (@abakosem) April 6, 2017
Source: Africafeeds.com
