Court fines political rivals for disturbing public peace

The Circuit court at Goaso has fined two political opponents GH¢350 each for disturbing public peace during which they tore-off posters of rival party's candidates during last December's presidential run-off.

Moses Abudu, a 35 year-old activist of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and 36 year-old Kwasi Aboagye of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), will each serve three months in jail if they fail to pay the fine.

Abudu pleaded not guilty to the charge of disturbing public peace while Aboagye pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector James Asamuah told the court, presided over by Mr. Osei Kwame Gyamfi, that the two were farmers at Siana in the Asutifi district.

He said during the December 28 presidential run-off, Abudu who was going round campaigning for the NDC tore off a poster of Nana Addo-Danquah Akufo-Addo, NPP Presidential candidate, which was posted on the wall of Aboagye's home.

The court heard that Aboagye confronted Abudu and in retaliation also tore up a sticker of NDC's Professor John Evans Atta Mills on his (Abudu's) bicycle.

This degenerated into a fierce scuffle between the two, resulting in Abudu sustaining some injuries.

Both reported to the police and after investigations were charged with the offence.