NDC Chairman Arrested

The South Tongu constituency chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Sackle, has been arrested and arraigned before court for allegedly demolishing a structure under construction at Dabala-Junction.

On Monday, May 18, 2015, the Dabala Magistrate Court in the Volta Region remanded Sackle and four others—Timothy Adika, Thomas Fume, John Kwarshie and Togbe Hademe—for demolishing a structure belonging to one Vincent Xordo.

However, counsel for the embattled chairman and his accomplices made a bail application, which the court heard yesterday.

The Magistrate, Janet Ahomka, after hearing the application, granted the NDC chairman and his four accomplices self-recognisance bail to the tune of GH¢5,000 each. They are expected to reappear on 15^th June.

JUSAG Strike
Despite the declaration of an indefinite strike by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), which commenced yesterday, the court heard the bail application of the NDC chairman and his accomplices.

Staff of the Dabala Magistrate Court were on duty to ensure the NDC chairman's case was heard. However, the court surprisingly closed immediately after the politician's case, as all other cases scheduled for hearing the same day were cancelled due to the strike action.

The Magistrate also cautioned against the discussion of the case in the media and warned that anyone who flouted the warning would be charged for contempt.

Details of Case
Mr Sackle, who used to be a District Chief Executive (DCE) during the regime of former President Rawlings, claimed ownership of the piece of land on which Vincent Xordo was putting up a building and allegedly authorised his four accomplices to pull down the structure, which was at the foundation level, in February this year.

A divisional chief of Anyigbe-Agave, Torgbui Abordor, who narrated the incident to a local radio station on Tuesday, stressed that the land in question belonged to his clan. He said his clan then gave the land to the complainant, Xordo, for the construction of a prayer camp.

Torgbui Abordor alleged that the South Tongu NDC chairman, who has now earned the nickname, 'Sackle Land Guard', authorised four people to destroy Vincent Xordo's property at Dabala-Junction, resulting in the complainant lodging a complaint at the Dabala police station.

The case was then referred to the District Command at Sogakorfe, where the suspects were charged and arraigned before the Dabala Magistrate Court.

Information gathered by DAILY GUIDE also indicated that although the incident happened in February this year, the police in the area were dragging their feet in prosecuting the culprits till some traditional leaders petitioned the divisional commander, who then ordered that the case be referred to the district command for necessary action.

Courts Deserted
In another development, the courts in the region have been deserted by the judicial service staff as a result of their nationwide strike.

A tour of the Ho High Court and Magistrate Courts by DAILY GUIDE revealed that all offices at the courts were closed. Some people, who were unaware of the strike and had come to have their cases heard, lamented about the development and asked government to immediately pay the JUSAG members what was due them to avoid such inconveniences.

From Fred Duodu, Dabala ( [email protected] )