17 Granted Bail Over La Riot

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
January 10,2012

The 17 persons arrested for their alleged illegal take over of the La Pleasure Beach Resort in Accra from the legitimate operators have been granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court, warning that it will rescind the bail in the event of any unrest in the area.

Each of them was granted GH¢5,000-bail with two sureties yesterday after they had all pleaded not guilty to two counts of being on the premises for unlawful purposes and offensive conduct with the intent to breach the peace.

They are Abdul Rashid Boi-Nai, Roland Tetteh Fio, Eric Ofoli Quaye, Anum Feehi, Robert Moffat, Samuel Annang Laryea, Ako Sowah, David Nai Mensah and Leeford Vemo Tetteh.

The rest are Ako Odoi, Norbert A.Sowa, Nicholas Adjei Annan, Henry Abbey, Abraham Tetteh, Jonathan Adjei Laryea, Dornu Abbey and Sowa Tawiah.

Counsel for the accused persons, Mohammed Sahnoon, informed the court yesterday that the complainants in the case, the La Traditional Council, had approached the respondents to have the matter settled out of court.

But the prosecutor in the case, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) E.Y Frimpong told the court that it had not been brought to his notice, saying “I am not aware of any move to settle the case, the complainant has not indicated to me of any settlement”.

All the same, he said he would consult with the complainants on the new development and accordingly inform the court presided over by Ms. Audrey Kocuvie-Tay on the next adjourned date of January 18.

The case as presented to the court was that the accused persons violently and unlawfully took over the management and operation of the La Pleasure Beach Resort from the legitimate operators.

According to the prosecution, without any authority, the 17 went to the resort and took over from the legitimate toll collectors.

The prosecution told the court that prior to the arrest of the accused persons, the La Traditional Council wrote to the Police to complain of the accused persons’ behaviour and requested for their intervention.

Consequently, the Police on January 4, embarked on operational duties at the resort and arrested the accused persons who were said to be obstructing the officers of the resort from performing their legitimate duties.

“The accused persons had not lodged any previous complaints to the council for which the council failed to act, warranting their illegal take over of the La Pleasure Beach Resort,” the police told the court.

The prosecution said they also did not have any authority empowering them to sack the officers who had been assigned by the La Traditional Council to man the resort.