The Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu has denied the allegation of being biased in handling the Bawku Conflict.
Speaking on GBC URA Radio in Bolgatanga monitored by Apexnewsgh.com Mr. Yakubu said politicians, do not remote control the citizens and has thus refuted allegations of political interference in the decisions taken to resolve the Bawku impasse
According to him, all the decisions taken by the Regional Security Council REGSEC in consultation with the Ministry of Interior are in the best interest of the good people of the Region.
While calling for unity from the various ethnic and political groupings in the Region, Mr. Yakubu further reiterated his zeal to pursue all-inclusive administration for the development of the region.
Meanwhile, an Accra High Court has granted bail to the 13 suspects allegedly involved in the Bawku Chieftaincy disturbances which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of property. The 13 were granted bail to the tune of 20,000 cedis each with one surety.
The decision comes after several attempts by lawyers for the accused to be granted bail by the Circuit Court. The suspects have been charged with unlawful assembly with offensive weapons and offensive conduct to the breach of peace.
All 13 however pleaded not guilty to these charges. They are expected to reappear before the court on February 12, 2022.
The 12 suspects were arrested following a renewed chieftaincy clash in Bawku last Monday, January 3, 2022, which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of property.
The court had earlier refused to grant the 13 suspects bail. There was serious disagreement at Circuit Court 4 in Accra on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, as lawyers clashed over a bail application for the 13 accused persons. The accused persons, according to the Prosecution, had violated a curfew in Bawku, and a restraining order, to perform the funeral rites of a chief who died almost 40 years ago, and at the same time to enskin a new chief for an area that already has a chief.
Leading the prosecution, Vivian Osei Tutu of the Attorney General’s department said there will be chaos and anarchy in Bawku if the 13 accused persons are granted bail. She said that the security situation in Bawku was already volatile and that granting the 13 accused persons bail would only heighten the already precarious situation.
The lawyer for the accused persons, Martin Kpebu, however, disagreed with the facts as asserted by the Prosecution. He described the accused persons as responsible and respectable people, some sub-chiefs with hundreds of thousands of subjects under them.
According to Mr. Kpebu, the accused persons had not enskinned a new chief, nor did they cause any chaos or anarchy in Bawku.
Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
