Gushiegu Suspects Charged With Murder

Wednesday, April 21, 2010
By Stephen Kwabena Effah

ONE of the five people charged for their involvement in the September 2008 violence that resulted in the death of three persons and the destruction of property at Gushiegu in the Northern Region, has been remanded by an Accra Circuit Court.

Sandow Yebdow, who is facing one count of conspiracy to commit murder, was remanded by the court presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh, while the others were granted GH¢50,000 bail each with two sureties until May 11.

They are Abu Damba, Labaran Bawa, Labaran Salifu and Issifu Bawa. They are facing two counts of conspiracy and causing unlawful damage.

Four other persons charged with conspiracy to commit murder, are said to be on the run. They are Kpalsogu, Abubakari Shikura, Andani Bawa and Mohammed Immor, who was arrested but released by the police for lack of evidence in September 2008.

The September 1, 2008 violence at Gushiegu was a spill over from an earlier clash between supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Kpatinga, a village near Gushiegu, on August 31, 2008.

The accused persons were said to be part of people who caused the violence that resulted in the death of three people, destruction of houses and cars.

Prosecuting, DSP P.K. Frimpong told the court yesterday, that investigation, were still ongoing, adding that the case docket would be sent to the Attorney General’s Department for advice upon the conclusion of the investigations.

He told the court that on August 31, 2008, some members of the NDC from Gushiegu went to Kpatinga, to erect party flags, and coincidentally, some NPP supporters were also at the village to put up a pavilion for their party.

According to the prosecution, a misunderstanding between the two sides arose resulted in a violent clash.

The two sides returned to Gushiegu and on the following day, the violence continued, DSP Frimpong said, adding that “they took the law into their hand and burnt 23 houses, three cars and three murders were also recorded”.

DSP Frimpong told the court that preliminary investigations revealed that Yebdow was among a group of five people who used sticks and other sharp implements to cause the death of Abubakari Ziblim, the chief of Naga, a surburb of Gushiegu.